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1971 Map of De Kalb

Name: 1971 Topographic Map of De Kalb
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

Northern Illinois University dominates the western edge of De Kalb, illustrating the institutional growth of this DeKalb County hub during the early 1970s. The map captures the city’s expansion northward toward Dresser Road and southward beyond the East West Tollway, showing a landscape transitioning from the agricultural roots of Malta and Afton to a more suburbanized academic center.

Logistics and transport are central to the area's layout, with the Chicago and North Western railroad bisecting the region. Smaller landmarks like the Landing Strip in Mayfield and the Radio Tower (WNIU) speak to the localized infrastructure of the era. Genealogists will find value in the distribution of family-centered sites, including Malta Cem, Hudson Cem, and the Notre Dame Sch, which anchor the rural sections of Milan and South Grove.