1948 Map of Brookfield

Genealogists will find a dense network of country school districts and rural churches, such as Prairie Seminary Sch and New Garden Ch, many of which served families surrounding Purdin and Laclede. The presence of Pershing State Park along the western edge highlights the preservation of the bottomlands near West Locust Creek, while cemeteries like Gooch Cem and Dryden Cem provide specific anchors for local family histories. This survey reflects the region's transition from a strictly agrarian patchwork to a more centralized industrial economy based around the rail hubs.