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1970 Map of Ottawa

Name: 1970 Topographic Map of Ottawa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

The confluence of the Fox River and Illinois River serves as the focal point for this 1970 study of Ottawa and its surrounding industrial and agricultural landscape. The map reveals the critical importance of water and transport in LaSalle County, documenting the path of the Chicago and Michigan Canal (Abandoned) alongside active rail lines like the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific.

Industry and community development are clearly visible, from the Claypits on the eastern edge of town to the residential clusters of South Ottawa, Naplate, and the Woodland Addition. Genealogists will find a high density of named landmarks, including Ottawa Ave Cem, Calvary Cem, and numerous parochial schools like St Francis Sch and St Patricks Sch. The map also details the river's geography, including Hitt Island and Bulls Island, illustrating how the waterway shaped the region's physical expansion.