2015 Map of Zion

About this map

The town of Zion and its surrounding countryside in Adair and Union counties are defined by a complex drainage network that includes Ninemile Cr, Threemile Cr, and Twelvemile Cr. This landscape is marked by the transition between the rolling uplands and the river valleys of the Thompson River. The settlement pattern follows a rigid section-line road grid, yet the placement of local landmarks like the Hill of Zion Cem and Liberty Cem reveals the centers of these rural agricultural communities. Near the western edge of the map, the settlement of Spaulding sits along Co RD p33, representing the steady, long-term habitation of this fertile region. Researchers will find a preserved look at the infrastructure of the Iowa plains, from early township boundaries to the precise locations of family burial grounds like Wilson Cem.