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1981 Map of Elgin

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

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

The Fox River valley and its surrounding glacial landscapes are captured here during a period of significant suburban expansion in the early 1980s. The map illustrates a dense network of water bodies in the northeast, including Pistakee Lake and Fox Lake, which are protected by Chain-O-Lakes State Park and the unique Volo Bog State Natural Area. These natural features contrast with the emerging residential patterns in Venetian Village and Round Lake Heights.

Industrial and transport corridors are defined by the Chicago and North Western and the Milwaukee Road, which helped shape the growth of regional hubs from Harvard to Grayslake. Significant elevation changes are noted along Marengo Ridge and Sunrise Ridge, while the Kishwaukee River drainage system dominates the western half of the sheet. Notable land use includes the expansive Bluff City Cem and several conservation sites like the Kishwaukee Forest Preserve.