1956 Map of Ottumwa South

About this map

The Des Moines River cuts through the northeast corner of this landscape, marking the transition from the urban expansion of Ottumwa to the rural townships of southern Wapello and Davis Counties. The terrain south of the city is defined by a dense network of drainage, where Kettle Creek, Village Creek, and Sandy Creek carve through the glacial till. Transportation is anchored by the Wabash line, which parallels the river and connects the larger industrial center to outlying settlements like Carbon and Ormanville.