1930 Map of Normal

About this map

The Chicago and Alton railroad cuts diagonally across this Central Illinois landscape, anchoring the development of early rail towns like Lexington, Towanda, and Normal. The survey shows a highly organized agrarian region defined by a dense network of country schoolhouses, such as the Little Red Sch and Pleasant Grove Sch, reflecting the peak of the rural district school system before mid-century consolidation. The northern portion of the map is dominated by the winding path of the Mackinaw River and its timbered breaks, contrasting with the flat prairie topography found in townships like Gridley and Chenoa. Genealogists will find interest in the precise placement of local landmarks like the Town Hall in Money Creek and various family-named schools that served the farming community during this interwar period.