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1961 Map of Decatur

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Decatur
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

The Springfield and Decatur corridors define the central Illinois prairie landscape in this early 1960s survey, showing a region where the industrial economy and state government intersect. Within the capital, landmark sites such as the Lincoln Home and the State Capitol are established alongside educational institutions like Millikin University and Eastern Illinois University. The map reveals a dense network of transit, where the Illinois Central, Wabash, and Pennsylvania railroads cross the agricultural heartland, connecting smaller hubs like Taylorville, Mattoon, and Effingham.

Hydrography plays a significant role in the local development, with the Sangamon River feeding into Lake Decatur and the Kaskaskia River carving through the southeast. Significant local-history landmarks include Oak Ridge Cem and the State Fairgrounds, while the southern reaches near Bunker Hill and Gillespie show the legacy of mining with various labeled coal mines. The landscape is also dotted with recreational spaces like Spitler Woods State Park and Lincoln Memorial Garden.