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1917 Map of Brownfield

Name: 1917 Topographic Map of Brownfield
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1917
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1917

About this map

Dixon Springs and the surrounding southern Illinois townships of Eddyville, Alexander, and Columbus characterize this rural landscape surveyed shortly before the United States entered the Great War. The territory is defined by a high density of country schools, including Allard College School, Sulphur Spring School, and Point Pleasant School, reflecting a period when education was deeply localized. The Illinois Central railroad cuts through the terrain, serving small depots and post offices like Dixon Springs Sta (Renshaw P.O.) and Big Bay (McNoel P.O.).

Hydrological engineering is visible in the network of the Bay Creek Ditch and Gauley Ditch, which sought to manage the wet lowlands near the Ohio River. Significant elevation changes are marked by features like War Bluff and Temple Hill, providing a look at the varied topography of Pope and Massac Counties before modern infrastructure altered the rural character. Notable local landmarks like Lackey Bridge and the distinction between Old Brownfield and the newer Brownfield settlement offer specific insights for local genealogists and historians.