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1968 Map of Chester

Name: 1968 Topographic Map of Chester
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1993
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1993

About this map

Chester sits prominently on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, serving as a critical point of industry and administration along the Illinois-Missouri border. The landscape is defined by the massive footprint of the Menard State Correctional Center and the adjacent community of Menard, which occupy the riverfront north of the city center. Across the water, the low-lying Kaskaskia Island is protected by an extensive Levee system, reflecting the ongoing struggle to manage the river’s floodplain.

Genealogists will find a wealth of burial sites including Evergreen Cemetery, St Johns Cemetery, and St Marys Cemetery near the city, while outlying settlements like New Palestine and Claryville are documented with their respective local landmarks. The transition from the alluvial bottomlands to the wooded uplands of the State Conservation Area highlights the varied topography that shaped the development of Randolph County through the late 20th century.