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1953 Map of Cairo

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Cairo
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

The confluence of the Mississippi River and the Ohio River dominates this landscape, where the southern tip of Illinois meets Missouri and Kentucky. At the heart of this river junction lies Cairo, a historic port town protected by extensive floodgate systems. The map illustrates a complex network of wetlands and sloughs east of the Ohio, including the Cane Creek Scatters, Swan Pond, and Axe Lake. This watery environment stands in contrast to the industrialized rail lines of the Illinois Central and the ST Louis Louisville railroads that converge near Mounds and Mound City.

Genealogists will find a wealth of local landmarks, from the National Cemetery north of Mound City to numerous country schools and churches like Mt Zion Ch & Cem and Macedonia Ch. Small, dispersed settlements such as Future City, Urbandale, and Levings provide a glimpse into the mid-century settlement patterns of Pulaski and Alexander Counties before the modern highway era shifted the local economy away from the riverfront.