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1959 Map of Bone Gap

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Bone Gap
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

Bonpas Creek meanders southward through the heart of this agricultural landscape, defining the winding border between Edwards and Wabash counties. The terrain is marked by a long-standing historical division, the Indian Treaty Boundary, which cuts diagonally across the northern townships. Small agricultural centers are linked by two major rail lines: the Illinois Central serving the community of Bone Gap, and the Southern railroad passing through Bellmont and Browns in the south.

Rural life in the late 1950s is evidenced by numerous local landmarks, including the Fairgrounds at Bellmont and several country churches like St Sebastians Ch and Lick Prairie Ch. Genealogists will find a high density of family and community burial sites, from Tanquary Cem to the isolated Ridge Cem. The map also captures infrastructure of the era, such as the Storage Bins near Bone Gap and a Gaging Sta along the creek, illustrating the intersection of rail transport and river management.