1962 Map of Union Center

About this map

Merrill serves as a primary rail hub in the northwestern portion of this landscape, situated where the Illinois Central Railroad follows the valley of the Floyd River. The 1960s terrain is defined by a dense network of township divisions including Stanton, Hungerford, and Elkhorn, which are dotted with the essential landmarks of rural Iowa life. Small gathering points like Union Center and the now-quiet McElhaney anchor the agricultural sections, while several country congregations and burial grounds, such as Stanton Ch and Lincoln Cem, provide critical data points for genealogists. The southern reaches of the map show the West Fork Little Sioux River cutting through Arlington township, where the Chicago and North Western line crosses near Midway Park. Numerous sand and gravel pits along the riverbanks suggest the local extraction industries that supported regional infrastructure during this era.