1918 Map of Wilmington

About this map

The Des Plaines River and Kankakee River converge in this Illinois landscape, creating a hub of early industrial and transit routes during the First World War. The legacy of the Illinois and Michigan Canal is clearly visible alongside the modern rail corridors of the Chicago and Alton and the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe. The map documents a dense network of rural schoolhouses, including the Red Brick School and the Schweizer School, which served the farming communities surrounding Wilmington and Braidwood. Numerous islands such as Mulberry Island and Treat Island dot the rivers, while topographic features like Kankakee Bluffs and Providence Ridge define the local relief. The settlement of Channahon sits at a critical junction of waterways and rail, reflecting an era when small-town depots and local schools were the anchors of the Will County countryside.