2013 Map of Runnells

About this map

Runnells anchors the southwestern corner of this Iowa landscape, where the modern road network intersects with longstanding agricultural settlements. The terrain is defined by the drainage patterns of Camp Cr and Walnut Cr, which carve through the grid of section lines and county roads. Further north and east, the small communities of Vandalia and Prairiebell represent the traditional clusters of rural life in Polk County. This 2013 survey illustrates the shift in regional transportation, showing the alignment of 163 alongside Old Ia 163 and Poplar Ave. The presence of named water features like Mill Br suggests the early importance of local streams for drainage or industry in this prairie environment, providing a clear record of the intersection between natural hydrology and the rectilinear human development typical of the American Midwest.