1946 Map of Mendon

About this map

Mendon and the surrounding townships of Lima, Ursa, and Ellington are mapped here during a period of significant drainage modification and agricultural expansion. Along the eastern bank of the Mississippi River, an intricate system of levees and channels, including the Main Ditch, the Seepage Ditch, and the Rock and Ursa Creek Diversion Canal, illustrates the effort to reclaim fertile bottomlands like those near Indian Grave Lake. The landscape is dotted with small rural education centers such as Indian Grave Sch and Golden Sch, alongside community hubs like Hebron Ch. Transportation is defined by the Chicago Burlington and Quincy railroad line, which links the riverside town of La Grange with the interior settlements of Ursa and Mendon, while the Canton Ferry provides a vital river crossing to the Missouri side near Hardy Bar Island.