2018 Map of Ashmore

About this map

Ashmore anchors this 2018 survey of eastern Coles County, where the transition from flat Midwestern prairie to the wooded bluffs of the Embarras River creates a varied rural landscape. This region is characterized by a dense network of family and community burial grounds, including Saint Omer Cem, Zimmerman Cem, and the Patsy Mitchell Cem, which reflect the generations of farming families that settled these townships. The Embarras River and its tributary, the Little Embarras River, cut deep paths through the terrain, bridged by landmarks such as the Airtight Bridge. Small rail-side or crossroads settlements like Rardin and Embarrass appear alongside modern aviation infrastructure at the John R Reed Airport. The map documents the enduring agricultural grid, interspersed with wooded creeks like Polecat Cr and Brush Cr, preserving the spatial relationship between historic churchyards and the surrounding farmland.