1917 Map of Brownfield

About this map

Dixon Springs Sta Renshaw PO and Big Bay McNoel PO serve as central nodes for Southern Illinois during the era of the Illinois Central Railroad. The landscape is defined by the transition from the rugged highlands of War Bluff and Hills to the bottomlands along the Ohio River and Bay Creek. This 1914–1915 survey reveals a dense network of country schools, including the Allard College School and the Normal School, suggesting a period of significant local rural development before later consolidation. The presence of both Old Brownfield and Brownfield indicates a shift in the local center of gravity, likely influenced by the positioning of Illinois State Highway No 146. Water crossings were vital to local travel, as seen in labels for Maynor Ford, Porter Ford, and Lackey Bridge.