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1984 Map of Carbondale

Name: 1984 Topographic Map of Carbondale
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

Southern Illinois University anchors the regional hub of Carbondale, situated amidst a landscape where the river-driven economy of the Mississippi River meets the heavy industry of the southern Illinois coal belt. This mid-1980s data shows the intricate rail network including the Missouri Pacific RR and Illinois Central Gulf RR that serviced settlements like Murphysboro, Herrin, and Du Quoin.

Conservation and institutional land use define much of the territory, from the extensive Shawnee National Forest and Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge to the sprawling Menard Correctional Center near Chester. The geography is shaped by significant water engineering, featuring Crab Orchard Lake, Devils Kitchen Lake, and Kinkaid Lake, which provide a stark contrast to the rugged bluffs of Fountain Bluff and the low-lying islands of the Mississippi floodplain like Kaskaskia Island.