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1932 Map of Pecatonica

Name: 1932 Topographic Map of Pecatonica
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

The Pecatonica River and its meandering tributaries, including Sugar River and Otter Creek, dominate this northern Illinois landscape during the early 1930s. The region is characterized by a dense network of rural schoolhouses and neighborhood centers, such as Davis, Durand, and Pecatonica, connected by early rail corridors like the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific. Settlement patterns reveal a reliance on river crossings, with landmarks like Trask Bridge and Farwell Bridge providing essential transit points.

Genealogists will find a wealth of specific landmarks including Rose Hill Cem and Pioneer Cem, alongside numerous country churches such as St James Ch and Twelvemile Grove Ch. The presence of many named schools, from Walnut Grove Sch in the north to Poplar Grove Sch in the south, indicates the established agricultural communities of the era before mid-century consolidation. Large landmarks like Sumner Island and the valley of Happy Hollow provide distinct geographical markers across the Winnebago and Stephenson county lines.