1922 Map of Cape Girardeau

About this map

Cape Girardeau and the surrounding river bottoms define the southeast corner of this early 1920s landscape, where the Mississippi River creates a natural boundary with Illinois. The regional topography is characterized by a dense network of rural one-room schoolhouses, including Schoenebeck School, Dogwood School, and Abernathy School, indicating a well-settled agricultural society before the consolidation of rural districts. Transportation is anchored by the Missouri Pacific and the St Louis San Francisco and Missouri Illinois railroads, which facilitated trade through hubs like Jackson and Pocahontas. Local history researchers can find smaller stops and landings such as Gulf Junction and Neelys Landing, along with early road networks like the Cape Girardeau and Perryville Road. The map provides a clear picture of the township divisions including Shawnee, Byrd, and Hubble, reflecting the early 20th-century political and social geography of Cape Girardeau County.