1967 Map of Valley Springs

About this map

Valley Springs and the surrounding tri-state border region are captured here during a period of significant transportation shifts. The town center is defined by the Chicago and North Western railroad corridor and local landmarks like Pleasant View Cem. Just to the north, the massive infrastructure of Interstate 90 cuts across the landscape, paralleling the older Highway 16. This survey reveals the rural character of the Minnehaha and Rock County line, where small settlements like Manley and Benclare sit near the winding paths of Beaver Creek and Springwater Creek. The southern portion of the map transition into the Illinois Central rail line near the community of Bruce. The numerous gravel pits scattered throughout the area suggest a local economy tied to the region's glacial deposits and road construction requirements of the late 1960s.