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1950 Map of Danville NW

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Danville NW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1950
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1950

About this map

The Vermilion River and its major forks dominate the topography of northwest Vermilion County just as the regional economy was transitioning from heavy extraction toward leisure and infrastructure development. The southwestern corner of this survey reveals the industrial footprint of a massive Strip Mine adjacent to the newly established Kickapoo State Park, where former mining lands were being reclaimed for public recreation. Further east, the sprawling expansion of Danville is visible near Harrison Park and the North Fork Vermilion River, which had been dammed to create a large unnamed reservoir near the Danville Country Club.

Genealogists will find a high density of rural landmarks, including numerous schools like Eureka Sch and Milliner Sch, and family-named cemeteries such as Dodson Cem and Johnson Cem. The New York Central railroad corridor anchors the southern settlements of Hillery and West Hillery, providing a look at the mid-century transportation network that connected these outlying communities to the urban center of Danville.