1930 Map of Woodsung

About this map

Elkhorn Creek and Jordan Creek carve through the agricultural heartland of northern Illinois in this 1930 survey, which focuses on the rural townships of Jordan, Palmyra, and Nelson. The early twentieth-century transportation landscape is dominated by the Chicago Northwestern railroad and the iconic Lincoln Highway, reflecting a pivotal era of transition from rail to automotive travel. Small rural centers like Penrose, Jorden Center, and Woosung serve as anchors for a landscape dotted with country schools including Compton Sch and Fairview Sch. Along the Rock River, the northern edge of Sterling appears just as the industrial and logistical patterns of the county were solidifying. The map records several community cornerstones, from the Prairieville Cem to the West Science Ridge Ch, providing a detailed view of local life before mid-century modernization reshaped these farming districts.