2018 Map of Sterling

About this map

The Rock River serves as the central artery of this Illinois landscape, physically dividing the twin cities of Sterling and Rock Falls. This 2018 survey documents the intricate grid of the urban core, which transitions into an expansive agricultural periphery defined by the township and range lines of the Public Land Survey System. Genealogical interest is high given the numerous burial grounds documented, including the Science Ridge Mennonite Cem to the north and the extensive Riverside Cem and Calvary Cem on the Sterling bluffs. To the south, the engineering of the Union Drainage Ditch and the presence of Crystal Lake illustrate the managed hydrology of the lowlands below the river bend. Small watercourses like Jordan Cr and Elkhorn Creek meander through the northern fields, while Ave G Island sits prominently in the river channel between the two primary municipalities.