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1901 Map of Des Plaines

Name: 1901 Topographic Map of Des Plaines
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1924
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1924

About this map

Main Channel Sanitary Canal and the Illinois and Michigan Canal cut a dramatic path through the glacial valley of the Des Plaines River, illustrating the massive late 19th-century engineering projects that shaped Chicago’s industrial suburbs. This survey reveals the transition from prairie to an integrated rail-and-water transport hub, with the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad and the Chicago Alton and St. Louis Railroad flanking the water corridors.

Smaller agricultural settlements such as Goodings Grove, Goeselville, and Hadley sit amidst the high ground and numerous creeks like Spring Creek and Hickory Creek, providing a look at rural life before suburban expansion. The detailed topography around Mount Forest and Palos highlights the varied relief of the Calumet region, while established rail junctions at Chicago Ridge and Summit Sta. anchor the map's eastern and southern reaches.