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1953 Map of Berwyn

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Berwyn
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

Industrial corridors and dense suburban expansion define this mid-century portrait of western Cook County. The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and the Des Plaines River serve as the primary geographical anchors, flanked by the massive Clearing Industrial District and numerous limestone quarries near Mc Cook. This era shows the region as a critical transportation and healthcare hub, featuring the sprawling VA Hospital Hines and the busy Midway Airport on the edge of Chicago.

Social and recreational life is evidenced by the Chicago Zoological Park and major sporting venues like Hawthorne Race Track. The map is particularly notable for its concentration of large memorial grounds, including the Jewish Cemeteries, Waldheim Cemetery, and Resurrection Cemetery. Dozens of local institutions, from Morton Junior College to parish schools like St Hughs Sch, illustrate the established neighborhood fabric of Berwyn, Cicero, and Brookfield.