1954 Map of Bethalto

About this map

Alton State Hospital and the sprawling Civic Memorial Airport anchor this landscape during a period of significant suburban expansion in Madison County. The map captures the post-war transition of traditional farming townships like Foster and Moro into residential clusters such as Rosewood Heights, Cottage Hills, and Oakwood Heights. While the southern portion shows dense development near East Alton, the northern reaches preserve a rural character defined by the winding West Fork Wood River and East Fork Wood River. Local history is deeply embedded in the rural infrastructure, from the Fosterburg Cem and Emmaus Ch to the Moro Sch. Notable recreational and social markers include the Drag Strip and Cloverleaf Golf Course, reflecting the era's mid-century leisure patterns as the Penn Central rail lines continued to facilitate movement through the river valley.