1937 Map of Carthage

About this map

Carthage serves as the hub of this Hancock County landscape, where the local rail network converges at the town's center. Three major lines, the Chicago Burlington and Quincy, the Wabash, and the Toledo Peoria and Western, connect the seat to outlying villages like Ferris, Bentley, and Elvaston. The surrounding townships are densely dotted with one-room schools, reflecting a vibrant rural community structure in the early 20th century. Notable local institutions include the County Farm just south of Carthage and numerous rural meeting places such as Middle Creek Ch. The terrain is shaped by the winding courses of Rock Creek, Middle Creek, and Bear Creek, which carve through the prairie to create the varied elevations shown in this mid-1930s survey.