2012 Map of Cobden

About this map

The fruit-growing and clay-mining landscape of southern Illinois is documented in this 2012 survey, centered on the historic rail town of Cobden. The map follows the dramatic elevation changes of the Shawnee Hills, rising from Clear Cr to the prominent peak of Bald Knob. Along the ridge, Alto Pass serves as a key local hub, while the small community of Kaolin reflects the area's geological history of clay extraction. Several small family cemeteries are preserved across the quadrangle, including Hagler Cem, Stearns Cem, and Mount Tabor Cem, offering points of interest for genealogists tracking early settlers. The complex network of rural roads and water features like Cedar Lake and the Alto Pass Reservoir illustrate the modern intersection of recreational development and traditional agricultural settlement patterns in Union County.