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1953 Map of Coal City

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Coal City
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1967
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1967

About this map

Coal City and the neighboring communities of Carbon Hill, Eileen, and Diamond sit at the heart of this mid-century survey, which reveals an industrial landscape heavily shaped by coal extraction. The eastern half of the map is dominated by extensive Strip Mine operations and numerous Mine Dumps, showing the physical mark of the industry on the Illinois prairie. The region's transport network is particularly dense, with major lines including the Gulf Mobile and Ohio and the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe providing the infrastructure needed for heavy freight.

Away from the industrial centers, the map documents a rural landscape featuring Goose Lake and the confluence of the Illinois River, Kankakee River, and Mazon River. Local history is preserved through labels for the Hefferman Cem, Short Cem, and several one-room schoolhouses like Pine Bluff Sch and Sulphur Springs Sch, which served the outlying agricultural and mining families during this era of transition.