2015 Map of Wilmington

About this map

Braidwood and Wilmington anchor this landscape where the Kankakee River winds through a complex geography of water and heritage. The northern reach is defined by the Midewin National Forest and the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor, signaling a shift from industrial utility to conservation. This transition is further evidenced by the transformation of former extraction sites into a chain of recreational waters, including Dinosaur Lake, Tully Lake, and the Big Shadow Lake group near Diamond. The map reveals the extensive drainage system required for this low-lying prairie, notably the Claypool Ditch and Prairie Creek. Several burial grounds like the Bohemian National Cem and Oakwood Protestant Cem provide essential anchor points for genealogists tracing the ethnic and social history of the Will and Grundy county border.