1970 Map of Hartley SW

About this map

Waterman Creek and its many tributaries define the agricultural layout of northwestern Iowa in the early 1970s. This survey, compiled from aerial photography taken in 1966, illustrates a landscape organized by the township and range system, where the drainage networks of Little Waterman Creek and McCreath Creek intersect the rigid section lines of Omega and Grant townships. The eastern edge of the map follows the boundary between O'Brien and Clay counties, tracing the path of Willow Creek as it moves through Lone Tree. The map captures a moment when mid-century farming practices and small-scale infrastructure, including several gravel pits and sandpits, were the primary drivers of the local economy and land use. The presence of numerous small waterways like Barry Creek and Jordan Creek highlights the importance of natural drainage in this productive prairie region.