1970 Map of Nichols

About this map

The Chicago Rock Island and Pacific railroad creates a sharp diagonal axis through this eastern Iowa landscape, centering on the community of Nichols. This 1970 record captures a riverine economy defined by the winding course of the Cedar River and its interaction with agricultural drainage, including the Slough and Cone Lake. Genealogists will find a high density of rural burial grounds such as Brockway Cem, Oak Grove Cem, and Rogers Cem, which reflect the early settlement patterns of Pike and Cedar townships. Transportation infrastructure is represented by the McKeown Bridge and a Gaging Station on the river, while the presence of the Grange Hall north of the river suggests the importance of local agricultural societies. Small rail-side hamlets like Hockeys and Cranston anchor the eastern and southern portions of the sheet, connected by the intersecting lines of the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroad.