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1978 Map of Hard Scratch

Name: 1978 Topographic Map of Hard Scratch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

The small settlement of Hard Scratch anchors this rural landscape in the late 1970s, where the rolling hills of western Iowa meet the border between Harrison and Pottawattamie counties. The topography is defined by a dense network of watercourses, including the winding Harris Grove Creek, Potato Creek, and Pigeon Creek, which have shaped the agricultural development and road patterns of Jefferson and Cass townships.

Local history and genealogy are well-represented by several scattered burial grounds and spiritual centers, such as Bethel Cem, Valley View Cem, and the Harris Grove Ch. An interesting modern landmark, an Observatory, sits on a high point above the drainage of Pigeon Creek, illustrating how the clear skies and elevated terrain of this agricultural region serve scientific purposes alongside traditional farming. The map also delineates the boundaries of Union and Grange townships, showing the precise grid of section lines that organize the rural homesteads.