2021 Map of Carbondale

About this map

Southern Illinois University Carbondale serves as a major anchor in the northern portion of this landscape, where the urban street grid of Carbondale meets the expansive conservation lands of the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge. The southern reaches of the quadrangle transition into the Shawnee National Forest, reflecting a region defined by its managed wilderness and significant water bodies like Crab Orchard Lake and Little Grassy Lake. The historical footprint of the area is visible through several rural burying grounds, including Zion Methodist Cem and Boskydell Cem, located near the small settlements of Boskydell and Makanda. The Illinois Central RR corridor cuts through the center of the map, illustrating the long-standing transportation infrastructure that supported the growth of these southern Illinois communities amidst the wooded hills and creek valleys of Drury Cr and Indian Cr.