1947 Map of St. David

About this map

Strip mine operations dominate the northern landscape of this 1947 survey, carving deep into the terrain around St David, Dunfermline, and Bryant. This industrial footprint contrasts sharply with the southern reaches, where the Illinois River and Lake Chautauqua define the lowland geography. The map illustrates a dense network of early rural education and community life, featuring numerous one-room schoolhouses like Blackaby Sch, Science Hill Sch, and Locust Grove Sch, along with centers of faith such as Nazarene Ch. The presence of the Tampico Mounds near Little America indicates the prehistoric significance of the river bluffs, while the extensive levee system along the river's edge documents the ongoing efforts to manage the floodplain for the Chautauqua National Migratory Waterfowl Refuge and local agriculture.