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1915 Map of Chester

Name: 1915 Topographic Map of Chester
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1915
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1915

About this map

Kaskaskia and the shifting channels of the Mississippi River dominate this early twentieth-century survey. The landscape is defined by the complex relationship between the Kaskaskia River and the Mississippi, creating large landmasses like Kaskaskia Island and Moro Island. The town of Chester sits prominently on the Illinois bluffs, while across the water, Missouri settlements like Lithium and Belgique reflect the river-bottom farming culture.

Transport and education networks are densely mapped, showing the St Louis and San Francisco railroad and the Cape Girardeau and Northern line connecting small junctions. Dozens of rural schoolhouses, such as Cain Hill School and Bois Brule School, are scattered across the townships, providing a clear view of the rural population distribution before modern consolidation. Landmarks such as Fort Gage and the County Farm near the river bluffs highlight the historical and civic infrastructure of the era.