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1985 Map of Decatur

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Decatur
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1990
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1990

About this map

Decatur sits at the heart of an intricate network of waterways and rail lines in the mid-1980s, where the Sangamon River is harnessed to form Lake Decatur. This region of central Illinois is defined by the transition from industrial cityscapes to the expansive agricultural townships of Macon County and Piatt County. The landscape is etched with the paths of major carriers like the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad and the Norfolk and Western Railway, which intersect at critical junctions like Tuscola and Arcola.

Southward, the influence of the Kaskaskia River is evident as it feeds into Lake Shelbyville, near the town of Sullivan. Cultural and natural landmarks such as the Robert Allerton Park and Spitler Woods State Park offer a view of preserved lands amidst the highly surveyed township grid. Smaller communities like Moweaqua, Cerro Gordo, and Lovington serve as local hubs for the surrounding farming townships, connected by a robust system of state routes and federal highways.