1964 Map of Donovan

About this map

Donovan and its surrounding prairie landscapes are defined by an intricate network of drainage ditches and the dual presence of major railroads in the mid-1960s. The Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific and New York Central lines intersect at Donovan, signaling the town's role as a transit hub for agricultural goods. To the east, the state line between Illinois and Indiana cuts through a large wetland complex centered on Willow Slough and J C Murphy Lake, which sit within the State Game Preserve. This transition from the orderly grid of the Beaver and Washington townships to the protected wilder reaches of the Indiana wetlands is starkly visible. Local history is anchored by rural landmarks like Beaver Ch and Beaver Cem, while vanished stopovers like Hooper and North Hooper indicate the shifting settlement patterns of Iroquois County.