1954 Map of Blackford

About this map

The Tradewater River winds through the borderlands of Union, Crittenden, and Webster Counties, anchoring a mid-century landscape of small farming communities and emerging industry. The Illinois Central railroad defines the central corridor, passing through the town of Blackford and near the settlement of Sullivan. Evidence of the region's geological transition is clear in the northern sections, where strip mines and oil wells appear alongside traditional agriculture. For genealogists and local historians, the map preserves the locations of several community landmarks, including Nunn Cem, Crowell Cem, and King Cem, alongside country churches like Enon Ch and Black Grove Ch. The terrain is characterized by numerous family-named peaks and hollows, such as Bob Lee Phillips Hill and Duffy Hollow, reflecting a deeply rooted local identity.