{"product_id":"map-of-clear-lake-iowa-by-usgs-1985-mason-city-ventura-winnebago-river","title":"Map of Clear Lake, Iowa by USGS, 1985 – Mason City, Ventura \u0026 Winnebago River","description":"\u003cp\u003ePublished in 1992 using survey data from 1985, the US Geological Survey’s “Mason City” presents a finely structured portrait of north-central Iowa at a moment poised between rural continuity and modern expansion. At 1:100,000 scale, the map embraces Mason City, Clear Lake, Ventura, Lake Mills, and the surrounding agricultural townships, setting them within the measured geometry of roads, section lines, drainageways, and subtle elevation changes. Its title is simple, but the landscape it describes is richly layered: a working Midwestern terrain of farms, creeks, highways, rail corridors, small towns, and lakeside recreation. As a historical topographic record, it captures the region’s physical and civic form as it stood in the late twentieth century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe map was produced by the United States Geological Survey, the federal scientific agency founded in 1879 to study the nation’s geology, waters, landforms, and natural resources. USGS maps are admired not merely for their utility, but for their disciplined visual language: a blend of scientific exactitude and cartographic restraint. Here, contour lines describe the land’s quiet undulations, while water features, transportation routes, settlement patterns, and grid references combine to create a lucid navigational framework. The result is a map that rewards close inspection, transforming a seemingly familiar agricultural landscape into a precise system of elevations, watersheds, routes, and human occupation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClear Lake is the most prominent natural feature on the map, a broad and historically beloved body of water west of Mason City. Long valued for boating, fishing, summer cottages, lakeside parks, and resort culture, Clear Lake gives the sheet much of its recreational character. Nearby Ventura and the smaller rural communities around the shore evoke the interplay between agriculture and leisure that defines this part of Iowa. The lake’s shape, shore roads, and surrounding lowlands are rendered with the clarity typical of USGS work, inviting the viewer to read not only its geography but also its role as a social and environmental centerpiece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMason City anchors the eastern portion of the map, appearing as the region’s principal urban center amid a wider matrix of farms and transport corridors. Known for its architectural heritage, including associations with Prairie School design and notable early twentieth-century civic buildings, Mason City stands in contrast to the open rural spaces around it. The Winnebago River, Lime Creek, Indian Creek, and the Shell Rock River system articulate the landscape through drainage and contour, showing how water has shaped settlement, agriculture, and route-making. Roads and highways connect town to countryside, while the grid of surveyed sections recalls the enduring imprint of nineteenth-century land division.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a historical document, this map preserves a late-1980s view of north Iowa before subsequent decades of development, infrastructure change, and environmental management altered portions of the region. Its traditional topographic style—contours, color differentiation, water symbols, route markings, and rectilinear survey grids—makes visible the relationship between natural form and human use. Fields, farmsteads, rural roads, parks, creeks, and lakes appear not as isolated details but as parts of a coherent landscape system. For collectors, “Mason City” offers more than geographic information: it is an elegant scientific record of place, capturing the textures of Midwestern life in the measured language of the USGS.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCities, towns and places on this map\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClear Lake\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMason City\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVentura\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNorth Iowa\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIndian Creek\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWinnebago River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLake Mills\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShell Rock River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLime Creek\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCalhoun Lake\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnnamed rural locales and farms\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoads and highways, including labeled routes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRailways, if depicted\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eParks and recreational areas surrounding Clear Lake and Mason City\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eField locations shown within the section grid system\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHistorical context \u0026amp; cartographic details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduced by the US Geological Survey, this historical 1:100,000 topographical map shows Clear Lake, Mason City, and the surrounding area in Iowa.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map was created using survey data from 1985 and published with a 1992 imprint.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe US Geological Survey, established in 1879, is a U.S. government scientific agency known for producing geospatial and topographic data.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map uses a traditional topographic style, including contour lines, shaded relief, and color gradients to show elevation and landscape features.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGrid lines provide a framework for navigation, orientation, and reading the surveyed landscape.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLakes, rivers, and other water bodies are clearly marked, highlighting the area’s natural geography.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClear Lake is shown as an important natural and recreational feature, associated with boating, fishing, and outdoor activities.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMason City is notable for its historical architecture and cultural sites.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map captures the region’s landscape before later urban development and environmental changes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAs a historical map, it provides insight into land use, transportation routes, rural settlement patterns, and geological features at the time of publication.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLooking for a particular place?\u003c\/strong\u003e Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/es\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eask our workshop to check before you order\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDetailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please \u003ca href=\"\/es\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eget in touch\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe model in the listing images is holding the 36x24in (90x60cm) version of this map.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/es\/pages\/map-personalisation\"\u003eSee personalised map examples\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEvery piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/es\/collections\/all-old-vintage-antique-maps\"\u003erare old and vintage maps\u003c\/a\u003e to discover another place, period or style.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Unique Maps Co.","offers":[{"title":"12x18in (30x45cm) \/ Map","offer_id":68126218649991,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x18in (30x45cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68126218682759,"sku":null,"price":105.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x18in (30x45cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68126218715527,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"14x24in (36x60cm) \/ Map","offer_id":68126218748295,"sku":null,"price":73.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"14x24in (36x60cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68126218781063,"sku":null,"price":160.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"14x24in (36x60cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68126218813831,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"24x36in (60x90cm) \/ Map","offer_id":68126218846599,"sku":null,"price":88.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"24x36in (60x90cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68126218879367,"sku":null,"price":240.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"24x36in (60x90cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68126218912135,"sku":null,"price":270.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"28x45in (70x114cm) \/ Map","offer_id":68126218944903,"sku":null,"price":115.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"28x45in (70x114cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68126218977671,"sku":null,"price":470.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"28x45in (70x114cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68126219010439,"sku":null,"price":470.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"31x50in (79x127cm) \/ Map","offer_id":68126219043207,"sku":null,"price":210.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"31x50in (79x127cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68126219075975,"sku":null,"price":875.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"31x50in (79x127cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68126219108743,"sku":null,"price":755.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"33x60in (84x150cm) \/ Map","offer_id":68126219141511,"sku":null,"price":280.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"33x60in (84x150cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68126219174279,"sku":null,"price":1400.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"33x60in (84x150cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68126219207047,"sku":null,"price":1300.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"44x70in (112x178cm) \/ Map","offer_id":68126219239815,"sku":null,"price":460.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"44x70in (112x178cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68126219272583,"sku":null,"price":1875.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"44x70in (112x178cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68126219305351,"sku":null,"price":1750.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0257\/0344\/8638\/files\/file_c98fff00-301f-4273-acf8-a221736ae458.jpg?v=1793873029","url":"https:\/\/uniquemaps.co.uk\/es\/products\/map-of-clear-lake-iowa-by-usgs-1985-mason-city-ventura-winnebago-river","provider":"The Unique Maps Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}