1971 Map of Shabbona Grove

About this map

Shabbona Lake State Park and the adjacent Shabbona Lake anchor the northern landscape of this agricultural region where DeKalb and La Salle Counties meet. The rural settlement of Shabbona Grove sits at a crossroads near the Chicago and North Western rail line, serving as a focal point for the surrounding townships of Paw Paw and Victor. The map reveals a deeply rooted farming community, evidenced by several family-named landmarks and country burial grounds like Johnson Grove Cem, Victor Cem, and Stevens Cem. Waterways including Little Indian Creek and Indian Creek wind through the township sections, occasionally carving features like the notably named Sleepy Hollow. The grid of secondary roads, such as Suydam Road and Wesson Road, connects numerous small farmsteads and active Gravel Pits, illustrating the local infrastructure at the start of the 1970s.