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1914 Map of Centralia

Name: 1914 Topographic Map of Centralia
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1914
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1914

About this map

Centralia stands as a significant railroad hub in the early twentieth century, where the tracks of the Illinois Central RR, Southern RR, and Chicago Burlington and Quincy converge. This survey captures a landscape defined by its grid of rural schools, such as the curiously named Possumtrot School, Red Stripe School, and Watson Springs School, illustrating the density of small communities like Sandoval and Odin before modern consolidation.

The winding Kaskaskia River and its Boulder Bottoms dominate the northwest, while the southern terrain transitions toward Fikes Hill. This map provides a clear record of the early municipal infrastructure for the region, including the Old Reservoir and the Centralia Cemetery. The intricate network of small streams, including Crooked Creek and Lost Creek, dictates the placement of the various schools and early settlements across the Meridian and Brookside districts.