1991 Map of Buffalo Prairie

About this map

Buffalo Prairie and the surrounding agricultural landscape of western Illinois appear here as they were documented in the late 1980s. This survey area straddles the Rock Island and Mercer County line, characterized by a series of significant drainage systems including Copperas Creek and Eliza Creek that carve through the prairie terrain. The settlement pattern is defined by small clusters like Marston and the presence of community anchors such as Antioch Ch. For genealogists, the map is a vital resource, showing the precise locations of the Buffalo Prairie Cem, Duncan Cem, and Edgington Cem. The transition from upland prairie to the lower-lying drainage of the Illinois Slough illustrates the natural water management of the region, anchored by man-made features like Lake Nelson.