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1915 Map of Renault

Name: 1915 Topographic Map of Renault
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1931
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1931

About this map

Mississippi River bottomlands and steep river bluffs define this 1915 survey of Monroe and Randolph counties in Illinois, along with Ste. Genevieve County in Missouri. The landscape is marked by a complex network of island formations such as Fort Chartres Island, Establishment Island, and Turkey Island, separated from the mainland by narrow chutes like Onemile Race. The era's transportation infrastructure is clearly visible, featuring the St Louis Iron Mountain and Southern RR running along the base of the Bluffs, providing vital connections for settlements like Fults and Modoc.

Educational and religious life is well-documented through numerous rural institutions, including the Ruma Convent and schools such as Hound Prairie School, Posten School, and Yankeetown School. The map reveals the early drainage patterns of the American Bottoms, where creeks like Maeystown Creek and Horse Creek meet the river valley. The proximity of the river to the bluffs at Penitentiary Point highlights the geological constraints that shaped the development of towns like Prairie du Rocher.