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1956 Map of Ottumwa North

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Ottumwa North
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

The Des Moines River carves a deep path through Wapello County, anchoring the urban center of Ottumwa and the industrial activity of the mid-1950s. This survey illustrates a dense network of neighborhoods and civic institutions, featuring numerous schools such as Franklin Sch, Washington Jr High Sch, and the campus of Ottumwa Heights College. The landscape is defined by its transition from the built-up city core toward the agricultural uplands of Richland and Highland townships.

Industrial and transport infrastructure is particularly prominent, with the Ottumwa Industrial Airport situated to the north and a complex convergence of rail lines, including the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific and the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific. These corridors follow the river and creek valleys, such as Bear Creek and Cedar Creek, revealing the logistical patterns of an Iowa manufacturing hub at the peak of the post-war era.