2013 Map of DeMotte

About this map

DeMotte and its surrounding agricultural plains define this region of Jasper County, characterized by an extensive network of engineered drainage that transformed the landscape. To the north, the Kankakee River follows a course parallel to Dike Rd, while a complex system of waterways including Brown Levee Ditch, Tyler Ditch, and Hodge Ditch manages the water table across the prairie. This infrastructure allowed for the development of settlements like Kersey, Deer Park, and Kniman, which are linked by a grid of rural roads such as Co Rd-1000S and W 1400 N. The map reveals the modern transition from purely agricultural use to residential pockets, seen in the street layout of DeMotte and the presence of the Shady Pines Golf Course further south. The naming conventions of the drainage ditches, such as Wesner Ditch and Hobbs Ditch, likely reflect the lineage of the local families who originally settled and reclaimed these lands.