2018 Map of Athens

About this map

Athens and Cantrall anchor this portrait of the central Illinois plains, situated along the border of Menard and Sangamon counties. The landscape is defined by the winding course of the Sangamon River in the southwest and the many small drainages like Halls Br and Cantrall Cr that carve through the agricultural tablelands. For family historians, the map is remarkably dense with burial sites, including the centrally located Joel Hall Cem and the West Cem near the town center. The settlement pattern follows a grid of rural roads such as Shanghi Ln and Haggard Rd, punctuated by smaller communities like Barr, Andrew, and the northern edge of Sherman. This era of the landscape shows a mix of traditional farmstead layouts and newer water features like Country Lake, Cica Lake, and Halfmoon Lake, illustrating the transition from a purely agrarian economy to one with growing residential and recreational pockets.