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1955 Map of Alton

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Alton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

The confluence of the Mississippi River and the Missouri River shapes the industrial and topographic character of this mid-1950s survey. Significant river engineering is evident through the Chain of Rocks Canal and the Cahokia Diversion Channel, supporting a heavy industrial corridor that includes an Oil Refinery near Roxana and Wood River. The landscape reflects a mix of institutional and civic growth, featuring Monticello College in Godfrey and the sprawling Alton State Hospital to the north of the city.

Transit networks are densely mapped, from the Clark Bridge connecting Alton to Missouri, to the numerous rail lines like the Illinois Terminal RR and Gulf Mobile and Ohio RR. Rural areas are punctuated by small family and community landmarks such as Wanda Cem, Salem Ch, and the Indian Mounds near Mitchell, providing a detailed record for genealogists studying the settlements of Madison and St. Charles counties.