2021 Map of Pearl West

About this map

Tick Ridge and Old Pearl Prairie define the high ground of this western Illinois landscape, where the rugged drainages of the Illinois River valley meet the upland plateaus of Pike and Calhoun counties. The map captures a high density of rural burial grounds, including Greenpond Cem, Hess Cem, Old Pearl Cem, and the Miller Cem, providing a detailed record for genealogical research in small settlements like Old Pearl and Straut. The complex network of seasonal and perennial streams, such as Silkwood Cr, Little Blue Cr, and Lost Cr, illustrates the dissected terrain that influenced early road placement along ridges and through hollows like Bettieview Hollow. This 2021 survey marks the persistent rural character of the region, where the county line between Pike and Calhoun runs south of the small community at Bee Creek.