Evaluation of the Illinois Prairies 1815-1840
In the 19th century settlement of Illinois, the initial evaluations of the landscapes were important factors. Accustomed to wooded environment in eastern United States, new settlers had varied perceptions of the prairies, which influenced the timing and patterns of settlement and uses of those prairies. Norm Moline commemorates excellent research on this topic by Douglas McManis, based on primary sources including journals and land office records. These perceptions are set in the context of mid-nineteenth century settlement history, a context which soon was to change with the invention and relatively rapid adoption of the steel plow and tile drainage.
Norman Moline holds a PhD from the University of Chicago and is the Edward Hamming Professor of Geography at Augustana College. His research interests include Historical Geography of the US, Urban Planning and Land Use Planning, as well as East Asian studies. He has published a book, book chapters, and articles about the historical geography of Illinois and the Midwest.
