1954 Map of Grafton

About this map

The confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers dominates this landscape, where the bluffs of Pere Marquette State Park overlook a complex network of islands and chutes. The river-centered economy is evident in the Illinois-Missouri Ferry connecting the rugged Illinois side at Grafton with the low, fertile plains of Portage Des Sioux. The map reveals a clear geological divide: the northern bluffs are carved by numerous named hollows like Distillery Hollow and Baby Hollow, while the southern floodplain is defined by drainage features such as Marais Temps Clair and Luesseville Lake. Land use patterns show a distinct shift from the upland Quarry and state park lands to the structured agricultural grids around Orchard Farm, where rural infrastructure including the Lake View Sch and Smartt Airfield served the mid-century Missouri bottomlands.