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1915 Map of Chester

Name: 1915 Topographic Map of Chester
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1940
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1940

About this map

The Mississippi River creates a complex boundary between Illinois and Missouri on this sheet, defining a landscape of river landings and shifting island settlements. The historic village of Kaskaskia and the nearby Dozaville sit prominently on Kaskaskia Island, a large landmass created by the river's changing course. In Chester, a major Penitentiary overlooks the water, while the nearby Missouri Pacific and Illinois Southern railroads facilitate regional trade.

South of the main channel, the Missouri side features a dense concentration of rural community centers and family-named schools, including Bois Brule School and Thompson School. The presence of Farmers Ldg and Okaw Ldg highlights the era's reliance on river commerce, connecting interior settlements like Lithium and St Marys to the broader Mississippi valley network. Genealogists will find interest in the numerous named schools and the Preston Cemetery located in the southern uplands.