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1954 Map of Granite City

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Granite City
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1969
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1969

About this map

The Mississippi River serves as the dominant spine of this mid-century survey, dividing the industrial landscape of Granite City and Madison from the urban density of St Louis. This map captures the region during a period of transition, with purple overprinting reflecting 1968 updates to the road network and urban footprints. The river's character is defined by engineering projects like the Chain of Rocks Canal and Gabaret Island, while the city shores are crowded with rail infrastructure, including the Illinois Terminal and Penn Central lines.

Genealogists will find significant value in the detailed plotting of massive burial grounds such as Calvary Cemetery and Bellefontaine Cemetery. The map also identifies dozens of community landmarks, from Brooklyn (Lovejoy PO) to the newly noted Gateway Arch on the St. Louis riverfront. Educational and medical institutions like St Louis University and Homer G Phillips Hospital are clearly marked, providing a clear picture of the social infrastructure supporting these river cities.