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1901 Map of Rock Island

Name: 1901 Topographic Map of Rock Island
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1901
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1901

About this map

The Wapsi Pinicon River snakes across this turn-of-the-century landscape, carving a meandering path through eastern Iowa and into the Mississippi River. This survey captures the region at the peak of the railroad era, dominated by a dense grid of competing lines such as the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific R. R. and the Chicago Milwaukee and St. Paul R. R.. These tracks fueled the growth of numerous small prairie towns, from Oxford Junction in the north to Walcott and Durant further south.

At the confluence of the rivers, the industrial and military significance of the area is anchored by the U. S. Arsenal on Rock Island. The map meticulously delineates township boundaries like Liberty and Hickory Grove, as well as small rural nodes such as Lost Nation, Allens Grove, and Grand Mound. This intricate network of small-town stops and river crossings provides a detailed view of the late 19th-century agricultural and transportation infrastructure before the advent of modern highways.