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1953 Map of Green Island

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Green Island
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

The confluence of the Maquoketa River and the Apple River with the Mississippi dominates this 1950s landscape, illustrating a complex network of backwaters and industrial corridors. On the Illinois side, the sprawling Savanna Ordnance Depot occupies a significant portion of the river terrace, defined by its rigid grid of munitions storage and rail sidings. This military installation stands in sharp contrast to the labyrinthine sloughs and islands of the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge, which includes named features like Morse Island Slough and Golden Lake.

Small settlements such as Whitton and Green Island provide evidence of early riverfront and railroad activity. Local community life is anchored by family-named landmarks and rural institutions, including the Lost Mound Cem and Smith Creek Sch. The terrain is deeply incised by Numerous hollows, such as Sugar Camp Hollow and Mooney Hollow, which break the bluffs overlooking the vast river bottomlands.