Loading map...

1953 Map of Elmhurst

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Elmhurst
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

O'Hare Field Chicago International Airport occupies the northeast corner of this mid-century landscape, a massive footprint that signals the rapid postwar transition of the Chicago suburbs. This era of expansion is evidenced by the dense grid of residential streets pushing outward from established hubs like Elmhurst, Bensenville, and Villa Park. While aviation dominates the north with additional facilities like Elmhurst Airport and Sky Haven Airport, the southern reaches remain anchored by institutional landmarks such as Elmhurst College and the Mater Dolorosa Seminary.

Transport corridors define the area's geography, with the Chicago and Northwestern and the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroads facilitating commuter growth. Scattered throughout the townships of Addison and York are numerous local landmarks, including the Mt Emblem Cemetery, the York High Sch, and the community of Churchville. These features, alongside the course of Salt Creek, reveal a landscape balancing its industrial and suburban future with its established community roots.