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2021 Map of Charleston South

Name: 2021 Topographic Map of Charleston South
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2021
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2021

About this map

Eastern Illinois University serves as a major landmark on the southern edge of the city, where the urban grid of Charleston meets the winding valley of the Embarras River. The landscape transitions from organized residential streets to the dissected terrain surrounding Lake Charleston and the elevated ground of Fox Ridge. Numerous rural cemeteries, such as Old City Cem, Shiloh Cem, and Leitch Cem, are scattered across the uplands, providing valuable data points for genealogical research in this part of Illinois.

The southern reaches of the map highlight small community clusters like Janesville, Campbell, and Diona along the border of Coles and Cumberland counties. The drainage patterns of Riley Cr, Kickapoo Cr, and Indian Cr define the local topography, carving through the glacial till toward the river. This modern survey documents the contemporary extent of protected lands and conservation areas, including Ridge Lake, while preserving the locations of early family-named burial grounds and historic road alignments like Old State Rd.