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1965 Map of Shelby

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Shelby
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1967
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1967

About this map

The Union Pacific railroad and the Big Blue River define the agricultural landscape of this Polk County region in the mid-1960s. The town of Shelby serves as the central hub, situated along the rail line and the junction of several routes, including State Highway 76 and Highway 92. The mapping detail captures the transition from the flat, sectioned prairie in the north to the more complex topography surrounding the river valley in the south, particularly near the Hackberry and Cañada areas.

Local history and genealogy are well-preserved through the documentation of multiple rural burial sites and places of worship. The map identifies Wesley Chapel Cem and the adjacent Wesley Chapel to the northwest, along with Graceland Cem near the town center and Thelen Cem positioned near the river bluffs. Numerous wells scattered across the townships highlight the intensive irrigation and water management required for the surrounding farmsteads.