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1973 Map of Essex

Name: 1973 Topographic Map of Essex
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

The Kankakee River winds through the northeastern corner of this Kankakee County landscape, providing a sharp contrast to the industrial and agricultural patterns that dominate the rest of the quadrangle. The village of Essex serves as a central hub, surrounded by smaller settlements like Godley, Torino, and the site of Clarke City. A significant portion of the western terrain is defined by large-scale earthworks and water features, likely associated with the region's strip-mining history, which has reshaped the natural drainage of Granary Creek.

Transportation networks are heavily represented by the Norfolk and Western railroad and the Gulf Illinois Central lines, reflecting the area's importance as a transit corridor. Local history is anchored by several rural burial grounds, including Mount Olivet Cem, North Essex Cem, and South Essex Cem. Evidence of resource extraction continues with scattered Sandpits, while a network of pipelines cuts across the townships of Reed and Essex.