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1918 Map of Rockford

Name: 1918 Topographic Map of Rockford
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1918
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1918

About this map

The Rock River corridor serves as the industrial and transit spine of this northern Illinois region, with the bustling hub of Rockford at the southern edge. The landscape is heavily marked by a dense network of country schools, such as Whig Hill School, Canada School, and Bird School, which served the rural farming townships of Owen and Burritt. A notable institution, the Winnebago County Boys Reform School, is situated near the Pecatonica River confluence, reflecting the social infrastructure of the early twentieth century.

Transportation is defined by competing rail lines and electric interurbans, including the Rockford and Interurban Electric and the Chicago Milwaukee and St Paul. To the north, South Beloit and Roscoe sit near the Wisconsin border, while leisure spots like Latham Park and Hohonega Park provide green space along the riverbanks. The Third Principal Meridian cuts vertically through the survey, anchoring the precise township and range grid that dictated the area's development.