1893 Map of Janesville

About this map

The Rock River valley serves as the central artery for this late 19th-century portrait of Rock County, anchoring the growing industrial hubs of Janesville and Beloit. Surveyed by Van. H. Manning Jr. in 1891, the landscape is defined by the intersection of major transit corridors, specifically the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad and the Chicago Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad. These rail lines dictate the placement of smaller agricultural depots and settlements such as Hanover, Afton, and Footville. Away from the river, the terrain transitions into the organized township grids of Center, Plymouth, and Newark, where smaller landmarks like Stevens and Fellows represent the rural community structure of the era. The map also captures the natural hydrology of the region, including the winding course of Marsh Creek and Bass Creek as they feed into the primary river system.