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2015 Map of West Point

Name: 2015 Topographic Map of West Point
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2015
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2015

About this map

Basco and West Point serve as the primary hubs of this rural landscape in Hancock County, reflecting the deep agricultural and community roots of western Illinois. The terrain is defined by the branching tributaries of the Bear Creek system, including W Fork Bear Cr and Little Bear Cr, which carve gentle valleys through the prairie. The settlement pattern is anchored by a grid of rural routes such as N 1400 East Rd and E 700 North Rd, connecting isolated farmsteads to the village centers.

Genealogists and local historians will find significant value in the numerous burial grounds scattered across the township, including Immanuel Lutheran Cem and Bethel Cem. The density of these sites, such as the West Basco Cem and South Basco Cem surrounding Basco, suggests the long-standing family lineages that have occupied this region. Water management features like Meadow Ditch indicate the historical efforts to improve the land for farming, while watercourses like Slater Cr and Panther Cr provide natural landmarks in an otherwise highly organized landscape.