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1944 Map of Quincy

Name: 1944 Topographic Map of Quincy
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

The Mississippi River serves as the central artery for this 1944 study, dividing the industrial hub of Quincy, Illinois, from the low-lying bottomlands of Missouri. This era shows a landscape deeply tied to water and rail transport, where the Chicago Burlington and Quincy RR tracks parallel the riverbanks. The floodplain is a complex network of secondary channels and islands, including Cottonwood Island and Fabius Island, with numerous lakes such as Big Lake and Turtle Shell Lake scattered across the Missouri side.

On the Illinois bluffs, the settlement pattern is marked by a dense concentration of rural institutions. Local history and genealogy interest is found in the many country schools like Waters School and St Ludgerus School, alongside religious landmarks such as Melrose Chapel and Zion Church. The map also captures specialized industry of the time, noting a Distillery south of Quincy and a Mill near Bluebill Lake, reflecting the regional economy before significant post-war modernization altered the riverfront.