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1960 Map of Silver Lake

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Silver Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

The Fox River carves a winding path through the heart of this Kenosha County landscape, defining the boundaries of agricultural life and early recreational development. In the northeast corner, the sprawling footprint of the Richard Bong Air Force Base (Abandoned) stands as a massive disruption to the traditional section lines, representing a significant Cold War era land use shift before its conversion. Around the waters of Silver Lake and Camp Lake, the map reveals a dense network of lakeside streets and cottages, contrasting with the rural expanses of Wheatland and Salem.

Evidence of local heritage is found at St Johns Cem and the Salem Mound Cem, while the Chicago and North Western railway tracks provide the industrial spine for the region. Small settlements like New Munster and Wilmot are clearly detailed, alongside community landmarks such as the Fairground, the Wilmot Hills raceway, and the Trevor Sch, capturing a moment when the area was balancing its farming roots with growing seasonal tourism.