2015 Map of Coal City

About this map

The Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor dominates the northern landscape of this region, reflecting the area's transition from 19th-century industrial powerhouse to modern conservation and recreation space. Centered on Coal City, the map illustrates a complex network of water management and energy infrastructure, including Heidecke Lake and the Dresden Cooling Lake. The intricate contour lines around Sand Ridge and the Mazon River indicate a legacy of surface mining and geological change in the Grundy County area. Genealogy researchers can find family history sites at Holderman Cem and Short Cem, while local historians can trace the development of smaller communities like Carbon Hill, Eileen, and Harrisonville that grew alongside the regional coal industry.