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1954 Map of Bethalto

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Bethalto
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

The industrialized landscape of East Alton and the growing residential corridors of Bethalto and Cottage Hills anchor this mid-1950s survey. The southern portion of the map is defined by the heavy infrastructure of the New York Central railroad and a significant industrial presence marked by Chemical Tanks and a Gas Tank near the Levee. The Alton State Hospital stands as a major landmark on the western edge, while the Civic Memorial Airport signals the era’s postwar aviation expansion.

Further north, the map reveals a transition into rural townships like Foster and Moro, where the character of the land shifts toward agricultural family-named sites. Genealogists can trace several local institutions that were already fading by the mid-century, including the Mt Olive Ch (Abandoned) and Hines Sch (Abandoned). These small landmarks, along with country burial grounds like Fosterburg Cem and Pruett Cem, provide essential anchor points for identifying vanished structures and early community centers in rural Madison County.