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1954 Map of Cahokia

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Cahokia
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1969
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1969

About this map

The industrial and urban heart of the mid-continent meets the Mississippi River in this detailed study of the riverfront corridor between Missouri and Illinois. On the western bank, the urban density of St Louis is characterized by a high concentration of institutional landmarks, including the St Louis University (School of Medicine) and Loretto Academy. The landscape is defined by the heavy infrastructure of the river economy, where the Mac Arthur Bridge (Toll) and several major rail lines like the Missouri Pacific Railroad facilitate the movement of goods across the state line.

Across the water in Illinois, the map documents the growth of Cahokia and Monsanto amidst a complex network of drainage ditches and remnants of the river's old course, such as Lily Lake. The transition from the dense industrial yards near East St Louis to the smaller settlements of Dupo and Falling Spring reveals a landscape heavily modified by both river engineering and rail expansion. Researching these sheets allows for a close look at the specialized facilities of the era, from the Parks College Airport to the U S Coast Guard station at Mile 174.