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1931 Map of Cairo

Name: 1931 Topographic Map of Cairo
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

The confluence of the Ohio River and Mississippi River dominates this 1930s landscape, centered on the strategic river town of Cairo. Protected by a system of levees, the city is a dense hub of rail activity, served by major lines including the Illinois Central Railroad and the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. To the north, Mound City and Mounds appear as significant centers of settlement, while the National Cem marks a solemn landmark near the banks of the Ohio River.

The lowland geography of southern Illinois is defined here by the winding Cache River and a complex network of sloughs and lakes, such as Fish Lake and Clear Lake, which occupy the bottomlands between the great rivers. This survey, conducted between 1926 and 1931, captures the region's intense reliance on river-and-rail transport before the expansion of modern highways. Local history is preserved in the numerous country schools and churches like Edith Chapel and Valley Recluse Sch that once served these rural river communities.