1900 Map of Danville

About this map

The Danville area at the turn of the century serves as a major industrial and transportation hub where the Middle Fork Vermilion River and North Fork Vermilion River converge. This 1897 survey, updated with later corrections, illustrates a landscape heavily influenced by coal mining and heavy rail. A dense network of tracks, including the Wabash RR, Chicago and Eastern Illinois RR, and the New York Central and Hudson River RR, connects the city to satellite industrial settlements like Westville, Catlin, and Tilton. The map captures the early development of Belgium and the rail-oriented layout of Steelton. To the west, the winding path of Hungry Hollow cuts through the terrain near Batestown, while the state boundary line is marked by the border community of Illiana. The level of detail provides an excellent look at the interplay between the Vermilion River and the expanding industrial infrastructure of East Central Illinois.