1983 Map of Sterling

About this map

The Rock River corridor defines the twin-city industrial and transportation landscape of Sterling and Rock Falls in the early 1980s. A complex rail network including the Chicago and North Western, Burlington Northern, and Rock Island lines converges along the riverbanks, supporting heavy industry near the Sewage Treatment Plant and various gravel pits. The Hennepin Canal and its associated State Park Parkway offer a distinct engineering contrast to the natural curves of Jordan Creek and Elkhorn Creek to the north. Within the residential blocks, numerous neighborhood assets appear, from Newman Central High Sch to Sinnissippi Park and the Indian Mounds Historic Site. Higher elevations to the north are marked by Science Ridge and several rural cemeteries like Oak Knoll Cem, overlooking the developed river valley below.