Who were the people highlighted and what buildings were chosen to form the border of the map?
The residences chosen reflected the wealthiest citizens in the county. These people were overwhelmingly lawyers, farmers, and pioneers who made significant strides in the county's economic and judicial spheres. With the zoomed-out perspective of the entire county, Bowman could include more residences on the border. Homes from Mahomet, Homer, Thomasboro, and Sidney were incorporated alongside their Champaign and Urbana contemporaries.
Some buildings, like Angles Block and the Bailey Buildings, are featured on both maps, emphasizing their importance to the area. Similarly, J. S. Wright and W. N. Coler's residences are featured on both maps. The two were likely associates of Bowman if not good friends. Interestingly, the illustration of Coler's residence on the 1858 map was a proposed sketch; the 1863 illustration is a reflection of the finished product.
