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1928 Map of River Forest

Name: 1928 Topographic Map of River Forest
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1948
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

The Des Plaines River carves a winding path through this post-war landscape, acting as a natural divide between the emerging suburban developments and the dense street grids of western Chicago. The map reveals a transition from industrial hubs like Norpaul Yards and the rail corridors of the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific RR to the expansive recreational and institutional grounds that define the area's character.

Major institutional landmarks such as the Chicago State Hospital and Rosary College stand as prominent anchors, while a significant concentration of memorial sites including All Saints Cemetery and Acacia Park Cemetery cluster along the river and township boundaries. The density of early 20th-century neighborhoods in Oak Park, Melrose Park, and River Grove is contrasted by several local social centers like the Oak Park Country Club and Big Oaks Golf Club, illustrating the planned expansion of the Cook County metropolitan fringe during this era.