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2015 Map of West Branch

Name: 2015 Topographic Map of West Branch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2015
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2015

About this map

The Herbert Hoover National Historic Site anchors the town of West Branch, marking the birthplace of the 31st U.S. President. This landscape, situated along the border of Johnson and Cedar Counties, is defined by its agricultural grid and the various branches of the Wapsinonoc Creek system, including the W Br Wapsinonoc Cr and Middle Br Wapsinonoc Cr. The map reveals a dense network of local heritage sites, particularly the numerous rural burial grounds such as Old Friends Cem and Honey Grove Cem that suggest a long history of Quaker and pioneer settlement in the area.

Beyond the central hub of West Branch, smaller hamlets like Springdale and Centerdale sit among the undulating terrain. To the northeast, the Cedar River cuts across the corner of the survey, contrasting with the smaller local drainages like Hoover Cr and Nicholson Cr. The survey illustrates the persistence of small-town Iowa geography, where section lines and county roads like Co HWY f44 connect disparate farmsteads and historic cemeteries.