1975 Map of Melbourne

About this map

Melbourne sits at the intersection of two major rail corridors in this mid-1970s survey of Marshall County. The landscape is defined by the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific and the Chicago and North Western railroads, which cut through the drainage basins of North Timber Creek and Snipe Creek. Outside the primary settlement of Melbourne, the small community of Van Cleve serves as a secondary focal point near the Van Cleve County Park. This era of the Iowa landscape shows a clear established pattern of agricultural sections, punctuated by local landmarks like Lollar Park and several rural burying grounds, including Maple Grove Cem and Logan Cem. The map provides a detailed look at the drainage systems leading toward the Skunk R in the southwestern corner, reflecting the topography of the Southern Iowa Drift Plain.