1949 Map of Cissna Park

About this map

Cissna Park sits at the center of this Iroquois County landscape, serving as a hub for the agricultural surrounding townships of Artesia, Ash Grove, and Pigeon Grove. The 1940s landscape is defined by an incredibly dense network of rural schoolhouses, including uniquely named sites like Possum Trot Sch, Pond Lily Sch, and Quaker Sch, which reflect the localized nature of education before mid-century district consolidations. The Chicago and Eastern Illinois railroad cuts through the southeastern corner, supporting the small grain-stop communities of Claytonville, Goodwine, and Hickman. Beyond the village centers, the map details the subtle drainage of the prairie through Pigeon Creek, Whisky Creek, and Fountain Creek, while marking spiritual landmarks such as the Apostolic Christian Ch and St Johns Ch.