Loading map...

1954 Map of Cahokia

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Cahokia
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

The Mississippi River creates a stark divide between the industrial core of St Louis and the developing Illinois riverfront of Cahokia. In the mid-1950s, this area was a critical junction for heavy rail, with lines like the Terminal Railroad Association and the Illinois Central Railroad weaving through manufacturing hubs like Monsanto and Valley Junction. The Missouri side is densely packed with institutional history, from the Missouri School for Blind and Loretto Academy to the venerable Old Cathedral.

Across the river, the landscape transitions into a mix of aviation and agriculture. Parks Metropolitan Airport and Parks College anchor the center, while family-named features like Schmids Lake and the natural Falling Spring reflect the region's diverse topography. Genealogists can trace early parish history at Holy Family Cemetery and identify long-established landmarks like the Chartrand School and Dupo, which served as a major rail terminus.