JOURNAL ARTICLE

Lines on Paper, Land as Commodity.

  • Published In: Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, 2026, v. 119, n. 1. P. 95 1 of 3

  • Database: America: History and Life with Full Text 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Reardon, Patrick T. 3 of 3

Abstract

The article focuses on the pivotal role of James Thompson’s 1830 survey map of Chicago in transforming the area from a small frontier settlement into a major economic hub. Commissioned by the Illinois & Michigan (I&M) Canal commissioners, Thompson’s grid-based map enabled the commodification and sale of land to finance the canal’s construction, which was intended to connect the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River system. This shift in land ownership marked a fundamental change from Indigenous use of the land and attracted speculators, businesses, and railroads, setting the stage for Chicago’s rapid growth. The city’s strategic location and infrastructure investments made it vital to the national economy, a fact underscored by the swift rebuilding efforts following the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society. 2026/03, Vol. 119, Issue 1, p95
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Geography and Cartography
  • Publication Date:2026
  • ISSN:1522-1067
  • DOI:10.5406/23283335.119.1.25
  • Accession Number:192456761
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society is the property of Illinois State Historical Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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