1972 Map of Estherville

About this map

Estherville sits at the junction of the Des Moines River and a significant rail corridor in the early 1970s. The city's growth is marked by its concentration of institutions, including Iowa Lakes Community College, several medical facilities like Rosewood Manor Nursing Home, and the local Armory. To the west, the landscape transitions from the river valley to the protected woodlands of Fort Defiance State Park. The surrounding Emmet County countryside is heavily modified for agriculture, evidenced by an extensive drainage network including Ditch No 121 and Ditch No 29. Wildlife management areas such as Eagle Lake State Game Management Area and Cheever Lake State Game Management Area preserve significant wetland pockets amidst the grid of sections and gravel pits. Notable for genealogists are the many localized burial grounds, including the Norwegian Cem and St Patricks Cem.