1980 Map of Mallard

About this map

The agricultural landscape of Northwest Iowa is meticulously documented in this 1980 survey, where the grid of rural section lines is interrupted by the diagonal path of the Chicago and North Western railroad. The town of Mallard serves as a central hub, flanked by the smaller settlements of Curlew to the northwest and Plover at the southern edge. These communities developed as vital rail stops for the transport of grain and livestock across the prairie. Local history is anchored by sites like St Marys Cem and Rush Lake Cem, which provide significant points of interest for genealogists tracing early families in the region. The map also captures the natural drainage patterns of the plains, primarily through the winding courses of Beaver Creek and Pilot Creek, which cut through the townships of Rush Lake and Ellington.