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1951 Map of Wood River

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Wood River
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1951
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1951

About this map

Industrial infrastructure and river management dominate this 1951 study of the Mississippi River floodplain in Madison County. Extensive Oil Refinery complexes and an Oil Reservoir at Wood River and Roxana signal the region's mid-century economic engine, supported by a dense rail network including the Terminal RR and the Wabash RR. The landscape reveals a complex relationship with water, where the Mississippi River meets the Cahokia Diversion Channel and the Old Channel Wood River.

Beyond the refineries, the map preserves the locations of local landmarks and rural social centers. For genealogists and local historians, specific sites like Sunset Hill Cem, Bohm Sch, and the Indian Mounds near Mitchell offer precise data points. Smaller settlements such as Oldenburg, Wanda, and Poag are clearly delineated alongside natural features like Grassy Lake and Smith Lake, documenting the area's transition from riverine wetlands to an industrial and residential corridor.