2018 Map of Onawa

About this map

Onawa serves as the focal point of this western Iowa landscape, situated on the flat Missouri River bottomlands just west of the Little Sioux River. The area's agricultural identity is clearly defined by a sophisticated network of drainage infrastructure, including Losey Ditch, Pratt Ditch, and the prominent Garretson Outlet Ditch, which manage the water levels of these productive plains. Further north, the small settlement of Kennebec sits near the base of the loess hills, where the terrain begins to shift away from the reclaimed marshlands. Genealogists and local historians can pinpoint several community landmarks, including the Onawa Cem and the central Po (Post Office), while the gridded street system of the county seat—featuring names like Emerald St and Jasper St—reflects the town's late-19th-century planning and growth.