1934 Map of Oquawka

About this map

The Mississippi River defines the western edge of this landscape, where intricate waterways like Benton Slough and Whitehead Slough wrap around Benton Island. Moving inland from the river bluffs, the terrain transitions into a dense network of upland farms and small settlements connected by the Chicago Burlington and Quincy and Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroads. This 1930s era reveals a highly localized social geography, evidenced by the sheer density of country schoolhouses such as Little Brick Sch, Dutch Row Sch, and Junkins Sch. The map records a moment when rural life centered on these one-room institutions and village hubs like Oquawka and Stronghurst. Family history researchers can locate numerous burial grounds, including Coghill Cem and Kemp Cem, and distinctive landmarks like the Davenport Bridge and the Airway Beacon near Gladstone.