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1940 Map of Arcola

Name: 1940 Topographic Map of Arcola
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1940
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1940

About this map

Arcola and Arthur anchor this rural landscape as it appeared before the mid-century, defined by a dense network of one-room schoolhouses and family-named landmarks. The Kaskaskia River and its West Fork cut through the central plains, where a intricate grid of country roads connects dozens of local institutions like Business Knoll Sch, Little Red Sch, and the uniquely named Pulltight Sch.

Railroad activity is prominent with the Illinois Central, Eastern Illinois, and Pennsylvania lines intersecting at key hubs, facilitating the regional agricultural economy. Genealogists will find significant value in the mapped locations of rural houses of worship and burial grounds, including Union Prairie Ch, Zoar Ch, and the Yoder Cem. From the small settlement of Chesterville to the crossroad at Cooks Mills, the map provides a precise view of early 20th-century Illinois farm life.