1965 Map of Granger

About this map

Saylorville Reservoir dominates this mid-1960s landscape, illustrating the controlled inundation of the Des Moines River valley across the borders of Boone, Dallas, and Polk counties. The map preserves the location of small crossroads and rail-oriented settlements such as Zook Spur, High Bridge, and Gibbsville before modern suburban expansion fully reached the area. The presence of Granger Homesteads and the town of Granger reflect the agricultural and communal planning of the region, while industrial remnants like mine dumps and gravel pits suggest a history of resource extraction alongside the river. Family and community history is anchored by several burial grounds, including Elk Rapids Cem and Mt Hope Cem, and the rural Hopkins Grove Ch, offering a detailed view of Central Iowa’s social geography during a period of major hydrological change.