2015 Map of Toolesboro

About this map

The confluence of the Mississippi River and the Iowa River dominates this landscape, where the state boundary between Illinois and Iowa follows the shifting channels of the river. The small settlement of Toolesboro sits on the Iowa side, overlooking the bottomlands and the historic Mallory Cem. Across the river in Illinois, New Boston anchors the eastern bank near the mouth of Eliza Creek and the waters of Boston Bay. The map reveals an intricate network of secondary channels and islands such as Jonas Johnson Island, Turkey Island, and Keg Island, illustrating the complex hydrology of the river system before and after modern engineering projects like Ives Ditch and Pool 17. Extensive wetlands and sloughs, including Half Moon Slough and Ziegler Slough, characterize the floodplain, while Lake Odesa and Sturgeon Bay provide significant open water features among the shifting towheads and chutes.