2018 Map of Selma

About this map

The Des Moines River cuts through the northeast corner of this landscape, anchoring the settlement of Selma at the junction of Stump Cr and the riverbanks. This area is defined by its rural cemetery network, which serves as a vital record of local family history and nineteenth-century pioneer lineages. From Bethlehem Cem in the northwest to Troy Cem near the southern border at Troy, these sites are often situated near the rolling breaks of seasonal waterways like Vesser Cr and Chequest Creek. The topography transitions from the river valley into a dissected plateau where small, dispersed settlements like White Elm persist along the section lines. The concentration of burial sites, including Passmore Cem and Mount Gilead Cem, suggests a long-standing community structure that has endured since the initial settlement era in Van Buren Co and Davis Co.