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1972 Map of Olaf

Name: 1972 Topographic Map of Olaf
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

West Twin Lake and East Twin Lake dominate this prairie landscape in North Central Iowa, providing a focal point for the surrounding agricultural townships of Erin, Liberty, Amsterdam, and Twin Lake. The small community of Olaf is situated along the Chicago and North Western railroad line, which cuts through the southwestern portion of the sheet. This area is characterized by the winding path of the West Branch Iowa River, which drains the glacial depressions common to this region.

Local civic and family history is preserved through landmarks like the Townhall in Twin Lake and the Hickory Grove Cem and West Lake Cem. Conservation efforts are prominent, with large tracts designated as the West Twin Lake State Game Management Area and East Twin Lake State Game Management Area, protecting the natural marshy character of the lake shores. Multiple Gravel Pits and buried pipelines suggest the industrial and utility infrastructure supporting the rural economy in the 1970s.