2015 Map of Panama

About this map

Panama and Westphalia anchor this portion of Shelby County, Iowa, representing the agricultural and communal heart of the region. The landscape is defined by the headwaters and drainage of several winding waterways, including Keg Cr and Mosquito Cr. A clear pattern of rural settlement is visible through the numerous township cemeteries that serve as vital landmarks for genealogical research, such as Washington Township Cem and Saint Marys Cem near Panama. The surveyed grid of gravel and paved roads, from 1000th St to the southern 900th St, illustrates the long-standing land division system. Notably, the path of Railway St in Panama suggests the historical influence of rail transport on the town's orientation, while the presence of Saint Boniface Cem in Westphalia highlights the religious foundations of these small Midwestern communities.