1948 Map of Mendon

About this map

Mississippi River bottomlands dominate the western half of this 1940s landscape, where a complex network of chutes and sloughs like Dillon Chute and Corner Slough surround numerous named landforms including Shandrew Island and Polly Island. The inland terrain rises sharply toward the bluffs, revealing a transition from the riparian environment to the agricultural plateaus of Mendon and Ursa. The map details the era's infrastructure before modern highway expansion, featuring the Chicago Burlington and Quincy rail line and the specialized engineering of the Rock and Ursa Creek Diversion Canal. Significant local history is preserved in the placement of numerous rural institutions, such as Mt Hebron Ch, Booth Mem Cem, and over a dozen country schoolhouses including Golden Sch and Brick Sch 36. Water access remains vital to the community, evidenced by the Canton Ferry crossing and the proximity of river towns like La Grange and Meyer.