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1970 Map of Starved Rock

Name: 1970 Topographic Map of Starved Rock
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

Starved Rock State Park anchors this 1970s landscape, where the deeply incised canyons of the south bank meet the industrial and agricultural activity of the Illinois River valley. The map documents a complex geography of transition, featuring the ABANDONED Illinois and Michigan Canal and the active Chicago Rock Island and Pacific Railroad paralleling the river. The southern bluffs are heavily marked by dramatic geological features like French Canyon, Tonti Canyon, and the Cave-of-the-Winds, while the northern uplands show intensive resource extraction through numerous strip mines, claypits, and sandpits.

Industry and local history are centered around Naplate and the Starved Rock Lock and Dam. Genealogists will find interest in the scattered markers of rural community life, such as the Townhall in Deer Park, the Deer Park Sch, and the Deer Park Ch Cem. The presence of the Starved Rock Airpark and the Cable Car near the riverfront reflects the area's mid-century role as a regional recreation destination.