1937 Map of Orion

About this map

Orion serves as a central hub in this depiction of the Illinois prairie during the early 1930s, where the intersection of the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific and the Rock Island and Pacific railroads dictates the local economy. The landscape is defined by the heavy presence of rural education and social infrastructure, seen in the dense distribution of country schoolhouses such as Kingdom Sch, Happy Corner Sch, and Mt Pleasant Sch. The northern boundary is shaped by the Rock River and the Green River Canal, while the southern reaches follow the winding course of the Edwards River. Notable landmarks include the County Farm and the Lutheran Home, providing a record of the community-based care and institutional life in Henry Co and Rock Island Co before the mid-century consolidation of many such rural sites.