1940s Maps of Shelby County, Illinois

Explore 12 historic maps of Shelby County from the 1940s. These maps offer a rare glimpse into what life looked like during the 1940s — showing old roads, neighborhoods, homes, and landmarks that have changed or disappeared over time.

Whether you're researching your family's past, planning a metal detecting trip, or studying how Shelby County's landscape evolved across the 1940s, these high-resolution maps are a powerful tool for exploring the history of this region.

  • Focus on a specific era: All maps on this page are from the 1940s, giving you a focused view of this time period.
  • See what’s changed: Compare century-old streets, trails, and buildings to today's modern landscape using overlays and satellite layers.
  • Research with precision: Use these maps for genealogy, historical research, land use analysis, or educational projects.
  • View, download, or print: Maps are fully viewable online in high resolution, and can be downloaded or printed for your own records.

Start exploring Shelby County's history through authentic maps from the 1940s. This is your window into the past.


Shelby County, IL maps

(12)
  1. 1940 Map of Sullivan
    1940 Map of Sullivan
    1940 Sullivan
    1940 Print · USGS
    Central Illinois is seen here just before the Second World War, showing a landscape defined by small townships and an extensive rail network. Genealogists and local researchers can locate dozens of country schools like Hewitt Sch and Titus Sch, or trace family sites such as Wright Cem and the Masonic Home.
    2 unique versions available

  2. 1941 Map of St. Elmo, 1958 Print
    1941 Map of St. Elmo, 1958 Print
    1941 St. Elmo
    1958 Print · USGS
    The Illinois counties of Fayette, Shelby, and Effingham are mapped here in the early 1940s at the height of their rail-and-refinery era. Genealogists and historians can trace numerous country schools like Martin Box Sch and churches like Crums Chapel near the Carter Refinery.
    2 unique versions available

  3. 1942 Map of Shelbyville, 1958 Print
    1942 Map of Shelbyville, 1958 Print
    1942 Shelbyville
    1958 Print · USGS
    Shelby County at the start of the 1940s reveals a landscape defined by the winding Kaskaskia River and its many bridge crossings. Researchers can trace family history through dozens of rural landmarks like Williamsburg Hill, Glenwood Cem, and Sandy Hill Sch.
    2 unique versions available

  4. 1944 Map of Ramsey, 1976 Print
    1944 Map of Ramsey, 1976 Print
    1944 Ramsey
    1976 Print · USGS
    Fayette County communities like Ramsey and Bingham thrive along the intersection of the Illinois Central and other major rail lines during the 1940s. Genealogists can trace family roots through numerous rural landmarks like Bayle City P O, Halford Chapel, and Hoffman Cem.

  5. 1945 Map of St. Elmo
    1945 Map of St. Elmo
    1945 St. Elmo
    1945 Print · USGS
    Fayette and Effingham counties are seen here in the 1940s at a peak of rail and river industry. Genealogists and historians can trace family locations near Saint Elmo, locate the Carter Refinery, or find rural landmarks like Crums Chapel and Meyers Cem.
    2 unique versions available

  6. 1946 Map of Shelbyville
    1946 Map of Shelbyville
    1946 Shelbyville
    1946 Print · USGS
    Mid-century Shelby County centers on the rail-and-river hub of Shelbyville during an era of thriving rural townships. Genealogists can trace hundreds of family sites, from the County Poor Farm to Ragweed Sch and Gallagher Chapel Cem.
    2 unique versions available

  7. 1946 Map of Ramsey
    1946 Map of Ramsey
    1946 Ramsey
    1946 Print · USGS
    Central Illinois rail-and-river life thrives mid-century as the Kaskaskia River winds past a dense network of country schoolhouses. Genealogists and local historians can trace family roots at Shed Cem, Bayle City P O, and the Illinois State Penal Farm.
    2 unique versions available

  8. 1947 Map of Pana
    1947 Map of Pana
    1947 Pana
    1947 Print · USGS
    Railroad lines from three major carriers converge at Pana in the mid-1940s, serving a productive agricultural landscape across three counties. Researchers can locate dozens of country schools and churches, including Swamp Angel School, Sacred Heart Cem, and Owaneco.

  9. 1947 Map of Stewardson, 1965 Print
    1947 Map of Stewardson, 1965 Print
    1947 Stewardson
    1965 Print · USGS
    Mid-century Shelby County is mapped here as a thriving agricultural landscape defined by its rural schools and rail junctions. Genealogists can locate family landmarks like Rincker Cem and East Salem School, or trace the rail lines through Stewardson.

  10. 1949 Map of Stewardson
    1949 Map of Stewardson
    1949 Stewardson
    1949 Print · USGS
    Shelby and Moultrie counties thrive as a vital rail and farming hub at the close of the 1940s. Researchers can locate dozens of country landmarks like Jordan Chapel, Rincker Cem, and North Liberty Sch along the region's busy rail lines.
    2 unique versions available

  11. 1949 Map of Dalton City
    1949 Map of Dalton City
    1949 Dalton City
    1949 Print · USGS
    Central Illinois agriculture and rail transit are documented here just after the war, showing the dense network of one-room schools and country churches. Genealogists can locate family landmarks like Sanner Chapel, New Hope Cem, and Penn Consolidated Sch.
    2 unique versions available

  12. 1949 Map of Pana
    1949 Map of Pana
    1949 Pana
    1949 Print · USGS
    Central Illinois rail traffic peaked in the late 1940s as five major lines converged at the hub of Pana. Researchers can trace the rural school system and family burial grounds such as Durbin College Sch and Mound Cem.
    2 unique versions available

End of results
Showing maps 1-12 of 12

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Frequently asked questions

  • What are the different types of historical maps available for Shelby County?
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  • Where are historical maps of Shelby County sourced from?