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1953 Map of Manhattan

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Manhattan
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

Manhattan serves as a central hub for this portion of Will County, situated at the intersection of the Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific and Norfolk and Western railroads. The landscape is defined by the headwaters of Prairie Creek, Jackson Creek, and Forked Creek, which drainage patterns suggest a terrain of gentle depressions and glacial rises. While larger settlements like New Lenox anchor the northern edge, the rural character is preserved through scattered local landmarks such as Reiter School and Hinspeter School.

Industrial and transport evolution is evident in the inclusion of the New Lenox-Howell Airport, a Landing Strip near Walton, and a substantial Tank Farm south of Manhattan. The map preserves the placement of social anchors like St Joseph Cemetery and the Green Garden Church, which stood as focal points for the surrounding agricultural townships of Green Garden and Wilton during the mid-20th century.