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1891 Map of Monticello

Name: 1891 Topographic Map of Monticello
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1917
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1917

About this map

Monticello anchors the northern edge of this Jones County landscape, where the Chicago Milwaukee and St Paul Railroad branches toward Longworthy and Scotch Grove. The terrain is defined by the winding courses of the Maquoketa River in the northeast and the Wapsipinicon River in the southwest, creating a complex series of ridges and valleys that shaped early settlement patterns.

Transport hubs like Center Junction and Onslow illustrate the critical role of the rail lines in connecting these rural townships. The map documents the 1880s layout of small communities such as Wyoming and Olin, alongside more obscure locations like the Blue Cut and Viroqua. For those tracing family roots in eastern Iowa, this survey provides a precise look at the township boundaries and early rail infrastructure before the turn of the century.