1940 Map of Cahokia

About this map

The Mississippi River creates a stark divide between the urban grid of St Louis and the industrial bottomlands of Illinois during the 1930s. The Missouri side is densely developed with civic landmarks like Lafayette Park and the U S Marine Hospital, while the Illinois bank showcases a sprawling rail-and-river network. The American Bottoms is crisscrossed by numerous rail lines including the Terminal Railroad Association and the Alton and Southern Railroad, supporting the growth of Monsanto, Dupo, and Cahokia. This transition zone is characterized by its complex drainage, where features like Cahokia Slough and Prairie du Pont Creek weave through the landscape. Further south, the terrain rises into the Sugar Loaf area, where rural icons like Droit Sch and Jackson Sch reflect the more dispersed settlement patterns found away from the river's industrial edge.