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1955 Map of Waterloo

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Waterloo
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

The Waterloo and Cedar Falls industrial hubs anchor this mid-century portrait of North Central Iowa, a landscape defined by the intricate convergence of the Cedar River, Iowa River, and Shell Rock River. Compiled just before the expansion of the modern interstate system, the map reveals a dense grid of section lines and gravel roads supporting a network of farm-to-market towns like Hampton, Clarion, and Grundy Center.

Significant regional water features, including Wall Lake, Clear Lake, and Beeds Lake, break the prairie topography, while the elevation of Pilot Knob provides a rare prominent landmark. The heavy rail infrastructure of the Illinois Central RR and Chicago and North Western Ry remains at its peak utility here, illustrating the transport corridors that fueled the growth of the manufacturing and agricultural centers in Black Hawk County and Story County during the 1950s.