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1912 Map of Canton

Name: 1912 Topographic Map of Canton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1949
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1949

About this map

Coal mining and rail infrastructure define the landscape of Fulton County during this era, centered on the bustling hub of Canton. The map illustrates a dense industrial network where the Chicago Burlington and Quincy RR and the Toledo Peoria and Western RR intersect, serving numerous local extraction sites like the Canton Mine and Alden Mine No 6. This concentration of industry supported a landscape dotted with rural civic life, evidenced by the high frequency of local schoolhouses including Shad Hill School and Sunnyside School.

In the northwestern corner, the Spoon River meanders past Slough Island, providing a natural contrast to the grid-patterned agricultural and mining tracts of Farmington and Fairview. Beyond the primary towns, smaller settlements such as Brereton and Fiatt emerge along the rail lines, while the presence of the County Farm near Canton provides insight into the social services of the early twentieth century.