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1918 Map of Wilmington

Name: 1918 Topographic Map of Wilmington
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1937
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1937

About this map

The Des Plaines River and Kankakee River converge in this region of northern Illinois, shaping a landscape defined by waterway transport and early rail networks. The presence of the Illinois and Michigan Canal running through Channahon highlights the era's reliance on artificial waterways, while the dense network of railroads—including the Chicago and Alton Railroad and the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad—illustrates the industrial transition.

Settlement patterns follow the river valleys and rail corridors, with established towns like Wilmington and Braidwood serving as anchors. For genealogists and local historians, the sheet is exceptionally detailed in its documentation of rural civic life, identifying dozens of small schoolhouses such as the Red Brick School, Schweizer School, and Troutman Grove School. Features like the Kankakee Bluffs and numerous named islands, including Bardwell Island, provide specific topographical context for family lands near the river forks.