2021 Map of Marseilles

About this map

The Illinois River and its accompanying Marseilles Canal dominate this landscape, illustrating the critical role of water-borne transit and power in LaSalle County. The city of Marseilles is positioned along the northern bank, where the Great Falls of the Illinois River once presented a natural obstacle and an industrial opportunity. Local geography is defined by a series of river islands, including Bells Island, Clarks Island, and Johnson Island, while the southern reaches are marked by the massive LaSalle County Nuclear Station Cooling Pond. Genealogists will find a significant concentration of burial sites scattered throughout the rural uplands, such as the Old Brumbach Cem, Nichol Cem, and the Maxton and Woodside Cem. Small-scale aviation is represented by several private strips like the David Gillespie Airport and Mitchell RLA Airport, showing how the mid-century regional infrastructure evolved into the modern era.