1893 Map of Delavan

About this map

The glacial landscapes of Walworth County are defined here by a series of prominent lakes and developing railway hubs in the late nineteenth century. Lake Geneva anchors the southeast corner, with the village of Williams Bay and the landing at Fontana established along its western shores. Further north, the town of Delavan sits at a critical junction of the Chicago Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad and the waters of Delavan Lake. The mapping reveals a highly organized township structure, where agricultural land is partitioned around small crossroads communities like Millard, Tibbet, and Fayetteville. The transition from rural creek valleys, such as Sugar Creek and Jackson Creek, to the industrializing rail corridors at Elkhorn illustrates the shift toward the region's role as a dairy and transportation center before the turn of the century.