1950 Map of Perry

About this map

The North Raccoon River carves a deep valley through the heart of the central Iowa prairie, creating a sharp contrast with the surrounding gridded agricultural lands of Perry and Dawson. During the mid-century, this landscape was defined by its intensive rail network, with the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific and the Minneapolis and St Louis railroads intersecting near the river's edge. The presence of multiple locations marked Inactive Mine near the settlement of Angus points to the area's history of coal extraction, which supported the rail-and-river economy before the shift toward modern agribusiness.