1958 Map of Aurora

About this map

The Illinois River corridor and its industrial junctions form the backbone of this mid-century landscape, anchored by the manufacturing and transit hubs of Aurora and Joliet. The era's strategic footprint is visible at the Elwood Ordnance Plant and Kankakee Ordnance Works in the southeast, while the historic Lincoln Highway and major rail lines like the Chicago and North Western facilitate movement across the prairie. Beyond the urban centers, the map documents a robust system of recreational and conservation areas along the river bluffs, including Starved Rock State Park, Matthiessen State Park, and the Green River Wildlife Area. This document illustrates the transition from a river-and-rail economy toward the modern highway system, connecting outlying settlements like Sterling, Dixon, and Streator to the growing Chicago metropolitan fringe.