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1928 Map of River Forest

Name: 1928 Topographic Map of River Forest
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1950
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1950

About this map

The Des Plaines River winds through the western suburbs of Chicago in this detailed postwar update of 1920s data. The map reveals the dense clustering of cemeteries along the river corridor and the edge of the city, including St. Joseph Cemetery, Acacia Park Cemetery, and Mt. Olive Cemetery. The transition from the urban grid of Oak Park and Dunning to the developing townships of Leyden and Norwood Park illustrates the rapid expansion of Cook County during this era.

Institutional and recreational landmarks are prominently featured, such as the Chicago State Hospital and Rosary College. Rail infrastructure is central to the landscape, with the Norpaul Yards and the Aurora and Elgin Electric line serving the industrial and transit needs of communities like Melrose Park and Franklin Park. The inclusion of the Big Oaks Golf Club and Ridgemoor Country Club highlights the suburban leisure developments that characterized the region before the full build-out of the mid-20th century.