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1963 Map of Coal City

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Coal City
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

Coal City sits at the center of a landscape heavily defined by its industrial and hydrological history, where the winding Eel River meets the remnants of the Wabash and Erie Canal. This survey reveals the intense land use of the mid-20th century, with numerous Strip Mine operations scattered throughout the townships of Harrison and Jefferson. The intersection of nature and industry is visible in features like Tapawingo Lake and the various feeder streams including Turkey Creek and Pond Creek.

For family historians, the map is a dense record of rural community life, noting several country churches such as New Hope Ch and Providence Ch. A high concentration of burial grounds, including the Scaffold Prairie Cem, Steward Cem, and Duncan Cem, provides specific geographic anchors for tracing local lineage. Small rail-side and crossroads settlements like Daggett, Hubbell, and Johnstown illustrate the settlement patterns of Owen and Clay counties during this era.