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1960 Map of Cosmos

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Cosmos
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1994
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1994

About this map

The Old Indian Treaty Bdy cuts diagonally across this landscape at the intersection of Indiana and Ohio, marking a historic survey line that still shapes the local road grid. Rural life in the mid-20th century centers on scattered farming communities like Salem and Cosmos, connected by a network of drainage channels such as Jordon Ditch and Simison Ditch. These man-made waterways emphasize the region's agricultural transition, draining the land toward the Mississinewa River and the Wabash River.

Social and religious history is preserved through numerous country sanctuaries, including Raper Chapel and Sugar Grove Ch, while the Hoover Cem provides a focal point for genealogical research. A unique local landmark, the Pleasant Hill Speedway, stands out north of the Henry Ditch, highlighting mid-century recreational patterns in this cross-border territory. The map's detailed fencing and field lines offer a rare view of individual property boundaries as they existed during the 1958 aerial surveys.