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1933 Map of Decatur

Name: 1933 Topographic Map of Decatur
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1933
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1933

About this map

Decatur serves as the focal point of this 1929 survey, showing the city's growth around the recently created Lake Decatur. This artificial reservoir on the Sangamon River transformed the local landscape, creating new recreational hubs such as Faries Park, the Decatur Country Club, and the Municipal Beach. The surrounding countryside in townships like Hickory Point and Whitmore is dotted with numerous rural institutions, from the Walnut Grove College Sch to the uniquely named Blue Door Sch.

Industrial and transportation networks are highly detailed, featuring the convergence of the Wabash, Illinois Central, and Pennsylvania railroads. Small rail-side settlements and junctions like Greens Switch, Forsyth, and Hervey City illustrate the rural economy's reliance on these tracks. For genealogists, the map is a dense record of family-named schools and landmarks, including Fort Daniel Sch and Graceland Cem, reflecting the early 20th-century social fabric of Macon County.