1893 Map of Lasalle

About this map

The Illinois River valley serves as the industrial and transit spine of this Illinois region at the end of the 19th century. Extensive rail infrastructure, including the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific Railroad and the Illinois Central Railroad, converges on the manufacturing centers of La Salle and Peru. Parallel to the river, the Illinois and Michigan Canal remains a visible piece of the transport network, though it is increasingly shadowed by the rapid expansion of the steel and steam lines. To the south, the deep-cut gorge of the Vermilion River and the designated grounds of Deer Park provide a sharp contrast to the surrounding gridded townships. Small agricultural and mining outposts such as Arlington, Ladd, and Oglesby dot the plateau, connected by a web of creeks like Negro Creek and Pecumsaugan Creek that feed into the primary river corridor.