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1948 Map of Havana

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Havana
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1948
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

The Illinois River corridor near Havana is defined by a complex landscape of levees, islands, and backwater lakes as it appeared in the late 1940s. The confluence with the Spoon River and the expansive Lake Chautauqua north of the city showcase an environment managed for both navigation and conservation, notably within the Chautauqua National Migratory Waterfowl Refuge. Cultural history is prominently marked by the presence of Dickson Mounds State Park and Ogden Mounds to the west, indicating the area's deep indigenous significance.

Industrial and agricultural life centers on the Chicago and Illinois Midland railroad and several pumping stations, such as the Thompson Lake Pumping Station, which were essential for maintaining the fertile river bottomlands. The rural townships of Waterford and Isabel are dotted with family-named schools like Morton Sch and Boatman Sch, alongside numerous small cemeteries including Hancock Cem and Neteler Cem, offering a detailed view of the mid-century social fabric in Mason and Fulton counties.