1965 Map of Arbela

About this map

The Chicago Burlington and Quincy railroad cuts a straight line through the northern half of Scotland County, anchoring the town of Arbela. This mid-1960s landscape is defined by the drainage basins of the South Wyaconda River and the North Fabius River, where the terrain transitions from flat upland rail corridors to the dissected stream valleys of Allen Creek and Bear Creek. The map provides a detailed view of the rural social fabric of the era, recording a high concentration of family and community landmarks such as Hickory Grove Ch, Union Cem, and Shacklett Cem. Significant mid-century infrastructure is evident in the presence of Wileys Air Strip and a local Drive-in Theater, reflecting the intersection of traditional agricultural township boundaries like Jefferson and Thomson with modern transportation and entertainment developments.