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1942 Map of Birds

Name: 1942 Topographic Map of Birds
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

The Wabash River serves as the prominent boundary between Illinois and Indiana, framing a landscape defined by its river-bottom sloughs and the intensive grid of rural school districts. This 1942 update of earlier surveys captures the region as it transitioned into the mid-century, with the Chicago and Eastern Illinois and the Cleveland Cincinnati Chicago and St Louis railroads connecting agrarian centers like Flat Rock and Birds.

A notable density of small-district schools, such as McCarthy School, Hazel Dell School, and Castle School, illustrates the social organization of Crawford and Lawrence Counties before the widespread consolidation of the post-war era. Along the river, historical crossing points like Brightlight Ferry and Longtown Ferry reflect a era when local commerce still relied on direct water access, while the swampy terrain near Brodie Lake and Miller Pond highlights the complex drainage system of the Allison Ditch and Otter Pond Ditch.