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1926 Map of McHenry

Name: 1926 Topographic Map of McHenry
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1946
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1946

About this map

The Wisconsin Illinois state line forms the northern boundary of this mid-century survey, where the rolling agricultural lands of McHenry County are defined by a dense network of local schools and established rail lines. The Chicago and Northwestern and Milwaukee and St Paul railroads intersect the landscape, connecting major hubs like Woodstock and McHenry to smaller outposts such as Hebron and Solen Mills.

A notable geographic feature is the elongated Wonder Lake, which along with Mc Cullom Lake and Lily Lake, highlights the glaciated terrain of the region. The map reveals an incredible density of rural education, preserving the names and locations of numerous family-named landmarks including the Stones Corner School, Tryons Grove School, and Manley School. This snapshot captures the county seat and surrounding townships before the mid-20th-century suburban expansion significantly altered the rural character of northern Illinois.