Loading map...

2012 Map of Brussels

Name: 2012 Topographic Map of Brussels
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2012
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2012

About this map

Brussels sits at the heart of this narrow peninsula in southern Calhoun County, defined by its position between the Illinois River and the Mississippi River. The landscape is a mosaic of fertile bottomlands and distinctive bluffs, featuring landmarks like Goat Cliff and McAdams Peak overlooking Sixmile Slough. The distribution of small settlements such as Golden Eagle, Meppen, and Deer Plain reflects the historical reliance on river transport and local agriculture in this isolated pocket of Illinois.

Genealogists and local historians will find significant detail in the numerous landings and burial grounds that dot the riverbanks and hillsides. Sites like Fulkerson Landing and Auer Landing highlight the early commerce of the rivers, while Saint Josephs Cem, Hartford Cem, and the ancient Lone Tree Indian Mound provide clear points of reference for tracing the area’s long history of human habitation. The map also records numerous hollows and hills, such as Greenbay Hollow and Knolle Hill, which preserve the family-named geography of the region.