The City of St. Louis [and] The City of Chicago

Side-by-side city plans of Chicago and St. Louis on one sheet.

In 1860, the rivalry between Chicago and St. Louis to become the nation’s “Midwestern” transportation and shipping hub was neck and neck. Despite its earlier settlement and population advantage, St. Louis was tied strongly to commerce along the Mississippi. Chicago was well suited to establish rail lines to the north, south and west; capturing regional commodities like lumber, grain, and cattle that would ultimately propel it to America’s “Second City.”

Colton issued this sheet, which includes plans of both cities, in the 1860 edition of his General Atlas, published by Johnson and Browning in New York. They are shown at the same scale and thus share a similar geographic expanse, but the aforementioned railroads in Chicago can be seen outpacing those in St. Louis. Each map labels streets, wards, railroads, public spaces and important buildings.