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1913 Map of La Salle

Name: 1913 Topographic Map of La Salle
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1940
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1940

About this map

The industrial and transport hub of La Salle and Peru is the centerpiece of this study, where the Illinois River corridor meets a dense network of early 20th-century railroads. The map records a landscape transitioning between heavy industry and rural education, evidenced by the proximity of St Bedes College to numerous country schools like Deener School and Aitkin School. This era was characterized by a massive rail infrastructure, including the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific RR and the New York Central RR, which serviced coal-rich settlements like Ladd and Cherry.

A notable historical detail is the presence of the Illinois and Michigan Canal running parallel to the river near Split Rock. To the south, the terrain breaks into the winding Vermilion River valley near Oglesby and Deer Park, revealing natural landmarks like Bailey Falls. From the mining communities of Dalzell and Standard to the agricultural townships of Troy Grove and Waltham, the map captures the region's complex economic geography just before the second World War.