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1917 Map of Birds

Name: 1917 Topographic Map of Birds
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1917
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1917

About this map

The Wabash River forms the eastern boundary of this 1917 map, carving a winding path through the borderlands of Illinois and Indiana. The river economy of the early twentieth century is evident in transit points like Brightlight Ferry and Shaws Landing, which provided essential crossings before modern infrastructure. Inland, the landscape is defined by the Chicago and St Louis R R and Cincinnati and Cleveland R R, rail lines that supported agricultural hubs like Flat Rock and Pinkstaff.

Rural social life is meticulously documented through a high density of one-room schoolhouses, including Meskimmon School, Montgomery School, and East Pinkstaff School. An interesting industrial note is found at Oil Grove, hinting at the regional development of natural resources. The southern reaches are dominated by the low-lying wetlands of the Embarrass River and drainage works such as Beaver Pond Ditch.