2018 Map of Beardstown

About this map

Beardstown serves as the focal point of this riverfront landscape, situated where the Illinois River meets the Sangamon River. The geography is defined by a vast complex of wetlands and backwaters, including Muscooten Bay, Treadway Lake, and Vetter Slough. This intricate network of sloughs and islands like Grape Island and Sugar Creek Island highlights the dynamic nature of the Illinois River valley. On the higher ground to the west, the terrain rises toward Mansion Hill, where smaller settlements such as Frederick and Pleasant View are located. Genealogists will find numerous family and community burial sites scattered across the uplands, including Gillette Cem, Messerer Cem, and Bellomy Cem. The presence of Bluff Ditch and Coal Creek Ditch illustrates the extensive drainage efforts used to manage the fertile but flood-prone bottomlands surrounding the river junction.