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1931 Map of Carlinville

Name: 1931 Topographic Map of Carlinville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

The Chicago and Alton and the electric Illinois Traction System intersect at Carlinville, anchoring a dense agrarian and industrial corridor in Macoupin County. This 1931 revision of a 1923 survey reveals a landscape organized by both the township grid and the winding paths of Otter Creek and Macoupin Creek. The rail network defines the region's economy, with the Chicago and Northwestern and the Peoria and St Louis lines connecting smaller outposts like Nilwood, Girard, and Modesto.

Genealogists will find an exceptional density of rural landmarks, including dozens of named schoolhouses such as Grimmett School, Horton School, and Bresser Mill School. The topographic detail highlights the prominent Coops Mound rising above the plains, while scattered spiritual centers like Antioch Church and Charity Church indicate the social hubs of the early twentieth-century farming community. Industrial sites like Schoper and Womac Station further reflect the region's development before mid-century shifts in transport and agriculture.