1906 Map of Urbana

About this map

The growing adjacent hubs of Champaign and Urbana anchor this landscape, serving as a vital crossroads for the Illinois Central and several other major rail lines during the early 20th century. While the western edge is defined by urban development and industrial nodes like the Terminal near Mayview, the surrounding territory reveals a transition into the fertile agricultural townships of Somer and St. Joseph. Small rural settlements such as Mira, Deers, and Tipton are mapped along the Wabash RR and the Chicago and Eastern Illinois RR, illustrating how the rail network dictated the placement of grain elevators and local commerce. The natural drainage of the region is traced by the Embarrass River and the Salt Fork River, which wind through the township boundaries of Philo and Sidney. Local history is further preserved in landmarks like the Mt Olivet church and various rural cemeteries.