2015 Map of Elwood

About this map

The Midewin National Forest dominates the southern landscape of this 2015 survey, where industrial borders meet conserved prairie land. In the northwest, the Des Plaines River and the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor mark the historic transportation spine of the region near Preston Heights. This era of Will County history shows the suburban expansion of Joliet and New Lenox pushing against traditional agricultural spaces. Local history and genealogy are preserved in sites like the Saint Joseph Guardian Angels Cem and the small Brown Church cemetery. Waterways including Jackson Creek and Prairie Creek meander through the terrain, illustrating the drainage patterns that shaped the early layout of Elwood and Manhattan. Small-scale aviation is represented by Sweedler Airport, while the dense grid of county roads connects these growing communities.