1952 Map of Erie

About this map

The Rock River meanders across this mid-century landscape, carving a complex network of wetlands and islands including Kempster Island and Peterson I. This 1952 topographical survey by the U.S. Geological Survey illustrates an agricultural region defined by its proximity to the river, where the Chicago Burlington and Quincy railroad connects towns like Erie and Joslin. The map documents a dense distribution of rural infrastructure, from the Old Stage Line Monument near the Rock River to numerous country schools such as Wheelock Sch and Pleasant Hill Sch.