Ward Map of the City of Chicago

Ward map of Chicago, before blatant gerrymandering.

This eye-catching map of Chicago presents a relatively simple base map overlaid by bright red lines identifying the city’s 35 separate aldermanic wards. Their borders seem quite logical, when compared to a similar plan of today; the victim of decades of gerrymandering by politically motivated interests.

At the time of publication, each ward had two aldermen serving alternating two-year terms, with one up for re-election each year (talk about a lot of campaigning!). The borders of the image reflect the street numbering changes formally implemented the year prior.

Created by John D. Riley, Superintendent of the Bureau of Maps and Plats in April of 1910.

Source.