1953 Map of Clinton

About this map

The Mississippi River dominates this mid-century landscape, acting as both a natural boundary and a commercial artery for Clinton, Iowa, and its neighbors across the water in Illinois. The urban layout of Clinton reveals a city deeply connected to its riverfront, from the Municipal Dock to the expansive rail networks of the Chicago and Northwestern and the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific. The industrial and civic development is balanced by a massive conservation footprint, most notably the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge which spans numerous islands and backwaters like Sunfish Slough. For genealogists and local historians, the map is a dense record of institutional life, documenting numerous schools such as Franklin School and Seymour School, hospitals like Mercy Hospital, and established burial grounds including Springdale Cemetery and Holy Cross Cemetery.