1914 Map of Macomb

About this map

Macomb stands as the central hub of this early twentieth-century survey, its grid concentrated at the intersection of the Chicago Burlington and Quincy railroad and the Waubonsie Trail. This map captures a landscape defined by an exceptionally dense network of rural schoolhouses, with nearly every section of the surrounding townships supporting sites like Gooseneck School, Litchfield School, and Ebenezer School. To the south, the terrain becomes more dissected as the Lamoine River and its tributaries, including Troublesome Creek and Grindstone Creek, cut through the prairie. Industrial activity is noted north of the city at a Clay Mine, while small outlying communities like Bardolph and Industry anchor the surrounding agricultural townships. The distribution of these named landmarks provides a clear picture of the township-and-range settlement pattern before the consolidation of rural infrastructure.