2021 Map of Hillsdale

About this map

The Rock River winds through a complex landscape of islands and sloughs at the junction of Rock Island, Henry, and Whiteside Counties. The village of Hillsdale sits at the northern edge of this drainage network, situated between Kempster Island and the Black Airport. To the southwest, the settlement of Joslin marks a point of higher ground above Joslin Slough. This region is defined by its low-lying hydrology, where features like Spade Slough, Oxbow Slough, and Shadow Lake illustrate the river's historical shifts. For local history researchers, the map identifies several rural landmarks, including the Bethesda Cem and Mount Moriah Cem north of the river, and the Colbert Cem and Ebenezer Cem to the south near Shady Beach. The intersection of multiple county lines and the presence of scattered residential pockets like Riverside Acres show the modern development pattern within this ancient floodplain.