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1947 Map of Wolf Lake

Name: 1947 Topographic Map of Wolf Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

The Big Muddy River winds through a complex alluvial landscape where the Mississippi River and Tower-Island-Chute define the border between Illinois and Missouri. The terrain transitions sharply from the low-lying bottoms of Grand Tower Island and Big Muddy Island to the rising elevations of the Shawnee National Forest, punctuated by landmarks like Grassy Knob and Government Rock.

Rail infrastructure and river crossings dominate the local economy of the late 1940s, with the Missouri Pacific railroad running parallel to the river and connecting small settlements like Aldridge and La Rue. Educational and religious centers serve the rural population, evidenced by the Macedonia Sch, Beech Grove School, and Galilee Ch. The presence of Kings Ferry and Bennett Landing highlights the era's reliance on water-based transport before modern bridges fully reshaped the region's connectivity.