1966 Map of Surprise

About this map

The Surprise community is centered at a sharp bend in the Big Blue River during the mid-1960s, serving as a hub for the surrounding agricultural landscape of Butler and Polk counties. This survey captures a rural environment defined by the intersection of four counties, where farmsteads are connected by a grid of section lines. Evidence of earlier transportation infrastructure is visible in the Old Railroad Grade that cuts across the western portion of the map, while local landmarks like St Paul Ch and the Surprise Cem provide anchor points for genealogists researching families in Stewart and Read townships. The hydrology of the area is detailed by the winding paths of Wildcat Creek and Cottonwood Creek, which drain into the main river valley. Numerous wells are marked across the terrain, indicating the importance of groundwater for the various township districts like Hackberry.