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1956 Map of Ottumwa North

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Ottumwa North
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

The Des Moines River cuts through the heart of this mid-1950s landscape, anchoring the industrial and civic core of Ottumwa. During this period of post-war expansion, the city's infrastructure is prominently displayed, from the Waterworks and Sewage Disposal plant to the large Ottumwa Municipal Airport in Richland. Educational and healthcare facilities are particularly dense, featuring the Ottumwa Heights College, Walsh High Sch, and the Sunnyslope Sanatorium.

A complex web of transportation lines, including the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific and the Burlington and Quincy railroads, crisscross the terrain to serve the local economy. Beyond the urban center, the map identifies numerous rural landmarks like the County Home and neighborhood schoolhouses such as Tindell Sch and Elm Grove Sch, reflecting the structured township system of Wapello County.