1968 Map of Sycamore

About this map

The Courthouse and City Hall stand as the civic heart of Sycamore, a landscape defined by the intersection of the Chicago and North Western railroad and the South Branch Kishwaukee River. This mid-century survey captures the region's transition as the northern suburbs of De Kalb expand toward the neighboring village of Cortland. The agricultural character of the surrounding townships—Mayfield, Sycamore, and Cortland—is punctuated by an extensive network of drainage infrastructure, such as Union Ditch No 3 and Union Ditch No 2, which transformed the prairie into productive farmland. For genealogists, the map is particularly rich in educational and religious sites, ranging from Central Sch and West Sch to local landmarks like Bethany Ch and several well-established burial grounds including Elmwood Cem and Ohio Grove Cem. The southern portion of the sheet is marked by the heavy infrastructure of the East West Tollway, contrasting with the more traditional street grids of the established town centers.