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1947 Map of Chester

Name: 1947 Topographic Map of Chester
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1947
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1947

About this map

Kaskaskia Island dominates this stretch of the Mississippi River, showcasing a complex border geography between Illinois and Missouri. The map records the site of Old Kaskaskia, the former Illinois capital that was largely destroyed and isolated by river shifts in the late 19th century. On the Illinois side, the city of Chester sits on the bluffs, marked by the presence of a massive Penitentiary overlooking the water.

A dense network of rural infrastructure supports the river-bottom farms and upland ridges, including numerous one-room schoolhouses like Oak Ridge School and Miles School. Transportation is defined by the Missouri Pacific RR and the St Louis and San Francisco RR, which connect river settlements such as St Marys and Claryville. The landscape is a mosaic of fertile lowlands like Brewers Island and dissected uplands where family-named landmarks and the Pastor Cemetery provide vital points for genealogical research.