1986 Map of Bloomington

About this map

Bloomington and its surrounding hill country define this mid-1980s landscape, where the expansion of university-town infrastructure meets the protected timberlands of the Hoosier National Forest. The map documents a complex hydrology dominated by the massive Monroe Lake, with its numerous recreation areas such as Paynetown and Hardin Ridge, and the smaller Lake Lemon to the northeast. To the east, the rugged topography of Brown County State Park and the Charles C Deam Wilderness provides a sharp contrast to the flatter agricultural reaches near Franklin. Regional connectivity is anchored by the White River and a rail network including the Illinois Central Gulf RR. Notable small communities like Gnaw Bone, Story, and Pikes Peak appear alongside larger centers like Martinsville and Spencer, while the Camp Atterbury Military Reservation occupies a significant tract in the northeast corner.