2021 Map of Shirland

About this map

The Pecatonica River and Sugar River converge in this northern Illinois landscape, defining the hydrological character of the area near the Wisconsin-Illinois border. The small settlements of Shirland and Harrison serve as the primary hubs of activity, surrounded by a grid of rural roads like Yale Bridge Rd and Freeport Rd. This survey documents a transition in land use, where traditional agricultural tracts are punctuated by the Sugar River Forest Preserve and several private airstrips, including Loeppert CPL Aero and Darrington Airport. For genealogists, the map provides precise locations for local burying grounds such as Shirland Cem, Harrison Cem, and the remote Phillips Cem. The terrain is shaped by numerous smaller waterways like Raccoon Cr and Timothy Cr, which meander through the low-lying basins of the larger river valleys.