1963 Map of Peoria

About this map

Peoria and its industrial neighbor Pekin serve as the primary hubs along the Illinois River in this detailed survey of Central Illinois. The landscape is defined by the convergence of major transportation corridors, where railroads like the Illinois Central Railroad and Gulf Mobile and Ohio Railroad intersect with the expanding postwar highway system, including Interstate 74 and Interstate 55. This era shows the region at a peak of agricultural and logistical importance, with the Grand Prairie punctuated by vital centers such as Bloomington, Normal, and the university cities of Champaign and Urbana. To the east, Chanute Air Force Base near Rantoul marks a significant military presence. Waterways like the Sangamon River and Mackinaw River provide the natural drainage for these fertile plains, while Sand Ridge State Forest and Jubilee College State Park represent preserved pockets of the original Illinois timber and sand prairie environments.