1963 Map of Blue Island

About this map

Blue Island serves as a major industrial and transit hub in the mid-1960s, defined by the convergence of the Calumet Sag Canal and a dense network of railroads including the Rock Island and Pacific and the Grand Trunk Western. The map reveals a suburban landscape in full maturity, where established communities like Evergreen Park, Oak Lawn, and Midlothian are tightly integrated with the Chicago city limits. Significant institutional presence is marked by a concentration of large cemeteries such as St Marys Cemetery and Mt Hope Cemetery, alongside educational landmarks like St Xavier College and the Morgan Park Academy. The industrial character of the southern section is further emphasized by the Little Calumet River corridor and the infrastructure of the Tri-State Tollway, documenting the era's reliance on both waterway transport and the expanding interstate system.