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1950 Map of Peoria East

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Peoria East
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1950
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1950

About this map

The Illinois River serves as the industrial and geographical heart of this mid-century portrait of Peoria and its neighboring communities. The map captures a densely developed urban grid characterized by its high concentration of local institutions, including Bradley University and specialized secondary schools like Manual Training High Sch and Woodruff High Sch. On the eastern bank, the topography of Fondulac and Groveland rises sharply from the floodplain, creating a distinct physical separation between the river-level industries of East Peoria and the residential developments of Sunnyland and Cloverdale.

A complex transportation network of five railroads, including the Chicago and North Western and Illinois Terminal, converges at the river's edge, illustrating the area's role as a major Midwestern logistics hub. Further south, the map details the established layout of Creve Coeur and the expansive Creve Coeur State Park, while the presence of the Peoria Lock and Dam and numerous industrial sites like the Clay Pit and Gravel Pit signify the working nature of the riverfront during this era of postwar expansion.