1936 Map of Elizabeth

About this map

The Apple River carves a deep valley through this northern Illinois landscape, which in the 1930s was defined by a dense network of family-run farms and country schoolhouses. This region of Jo Daviess County includes Charles Mound, the highest point in the state, standing among numerous named elevations like Squirrel Grove Mound and Benton Mound. The settlement pattern follows the tracks of the Chicago Great Western RR and the Illinois Central RR, with towns such as Elizabeth and Stockton serving as local hubs. Economic life is further illustrated by the presence of the Wishon Mine and Hagerty Mine near the western edge of the quadrangle. For those studying the social geography of the era, the map meticulously records dozens of local education sites, from the Sweet Home School to the Terrapin Ridge School, alongside the establishment of the Apple River Canyon State Park.