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1953 Map of Atkinson

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Atkinson
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

The town of Atkinson serves as the central hub of this mid-century Henry County landscape, situated along the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific railroad line. The map illustrates a highly managed water system, where the Green River flows parallel to the Illinois and Mississippi Canal (abandoned). This intersection of natural and man-made waterways, including the Big Slough Drainage Ditch and Blue Joint Drainage Ditch, highlights the region's historical commitment to agricultural drainage and transportation infrastructure.

Genealogists and local historians will find significant detail in the rural sections of Phenix, Lorraine, and Cornwall townships. Several country schools such as Mt Sunny School and Grove School are noted, alongside the Spring Creek Grange Hall, which served as a focal point for the local farming community. Notable burial sites include Mizpah Cemetery and Grand View Cemetery, providing essential markers for tracing family heritage in this Illinois prairie region.