2018 Map of Swaledale

About this map

Swaledale and Thornton anchor this northern Iowa landscape, where the grid of the Public Land Survey System defines the movement of agriculture and commerce. Situated along the boundary between Cerro Gordo and Franklin counties, the area is characterized by the meandering paths of Bailey Creek and Beaverdam Cr, which break the geometric precision of the section lines. Local history is preserved in several small burial grounds, including Pleasant Valley Township Cem and Shobes Grove Cem, which serve as quiet markers of the families who settled this prairie. The terrain is relatively flat, with subtle drainage provided by Otter Cr and W Br Beaverdam Creek. In the western portion of the map, the community of Thornton sits near the intersection of 125th St and Heather Ave, representing a classic example of an Iowa farm town shaped by the surrounding rural sections.