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1971 Map of Biggs

Name: 1971 Topographic Map of Biggs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

The Sangamon River meanders along the southern edge of this Mason County landscape, defining the low-lying terrain of Herget Bottoms. This early 1970s survey documents a region defined by agricultural drainage systems like the Newton Ditch and Biggs Ditch, which crisscross the flatlands between the river and the northern settlements. The landscape is dotted with family and community legacy sites, including several small burial grounds such as Baker Cem, Morgan Cem, and Chaney Cem.

Transportation networks of the Illinois Central and the Chicago and Illinois Midland railroads intersect this rural corridor, serving the small centers of Biggs and Poplar City. While the river valley remains largely undeveloped, the upland areas around New Lebanon Ch and the local Townhall reveal a settled community structure focused on agriculture and local transit. The map provides a precise record of the intricate canal and ditch network essential to the productivity of these Illinois bottomlands.