1948 Map of Cobden

About this map

Alto Pass and Cobden serve as the primary rail-connected hubs in this 1948 survey of southern Illinois, where the Gulf Mobile And Ohio and Illinois Central railroads dictate the movement of goods through the ridge-and-hollow terrain. The map captures a landscape defined by its rural institutions, with numerous country schools like Hambric School, Landreth School, and Union Point School serving scattered family farms. The high ground is dominated by the Shawnee National Forest and the Union County State Forest, where the Bald Knob Lookout Tower stands as a sentinel over the heavily wooded ridges.