1954 Map of Collinsville

About this map

Collinsville serves as the focal point of this mid-century survey, situated at the intersection of a complex rail network and a landscape defined by deep drainage branches. In the mid-1950s, the Pennsylvania, Illinois Terminal, and C & NW RY railroads crisscrossed the region, connecting industrial hubs and small residential nodes like Maryville and Chinatown. The map reveals a community-based infrastructure with local schools such as Cuba Sch and Webster Sch serving their respective neighborhoods. Beyond the urban grid, the terrain rises toward Browns Mound and Pleasant Ridge, while the surrounding countryside is dotted with family-named landmarks and cemeteries, including Finland Cem and Watt Cem. This edition captures the area just as the Belt Line Highway was beginning to shape modern transit patterns through the Madison and St. Clair County borderlands.