1971 Map of Freeport West

About this map

The western edges of Freeport and the surrounding township of Harlem define this early 1970s landscape, where the urban grid meets the meandering bends of the Pecatonica River. While the city displays established residential streets and civic anchors like Highland Community College and Krape Park, the outlying territory remains deeply agricultural. This rural expanse is punctuated by small settlements and historic points of interest, including the community of Scioto Mills to the north and Preston Bottoms along the river. Transportation patterns are shaped by the Illinois Central Gulf railroad and a network of gravel-extraction sites, shown as multiple Quarry labels. Genealogists will find a wealth of local history in the numerous rural burying grounds such as Hart Cem, Harlem Center Cem, and the Van Brocklin Cem, which anchor the surrounding farmsteads.