1965 Map of Waukee

About this map

The confluence of the North Raccoon River and the South Raccoon River shapes the geography of this mid-1960s Iowa landscape. This area, largely defined by the townships of Van Meter, Walnut, and Adel, is a critical junction for major midwestern rail networks. The Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific runs through the northern reaches near Ortonville, while the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific services the southern settlements of Van Meter and Booneville. Numerous family and community burial sites, including the Williams Cem, Thornton Cem, and Clayton Cem, are scattered throughout the river valleys and uplands. The terrain shows a transition from the agricultural plateaus around Waukee to the complex riparian network of Bulger Creek and Sugar Creek as they drain into the main branch of the Raccoon River.