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1986 Map of Cape Girardeau

Name: 1986 Topographic Map of Cape Girardeau
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

The confluence of the Mississippi River and Ohio River creates a dynamic landscape of islands and rich bottomlands at the tri-state junction of Missouri, Illinois, and Kentucky. This mid-1980s topographical study highlights the dense rail network supporting the region's river economy, including the St Louis Southwestern Railway and the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad. Settlement patterns reflect the diverse geography, from riverfront towns like Commerce and Scott City to upland communities such as Pocahontas, Burfordville, and Oak Ridge.

Conservation efforts are prominent across the river basins, notably within the Trail of Tears State Park and the extensive Shawnee National Forest. The map detail allows for a careful examination of water control and land use, from the Horseshoe Lake Conservation Area to the expansive agricultural tracts of Barlow Bottoms and Hogans Bottoms. The complex drainage of the Whitewater River and Castor River systems further illustrates the hydrological character of the northern Mississippi Embayment.