1961 Map of Aurora
USGS Topo · Published 1961About this map
The Illinois River valley serves as a primary industrial and transportation corridor in this early 1960s study, connecting major settlements from Joliet through Morris and Ottawa to La Salle and Peru. The landscape is defined by its deep investment in mid-century infrastructure and wartime legacy, notably the massive Green River Ordnance Plant in Lee County and the Kankakee Ordnance Works to the east. These government installations sit alongside a dense network of major railroads like the Chicago Burlington and Quincy RR and the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe RR. Beyond the industrial centers of Aurora and Rockford, the map captures the preservation of the river's natural geography at Starved Rock State Park and Matthiessen State Park, providing a sharp contrast to the sprawling rail yards and highway networks of the surrounding prairie.
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Editions of this 1961 Aurora Map
This is the sole edition of this map. No revisions or reprints were ever made.
