Loading map...

1980 Map of Delavan South

Name: 1980 Topographic Map of Delavan South
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

Delavan and San Jose anchor this 1980 survey, which captures the rural agricultural landscape at the tri-county intersection of Tazewell, Mason, and Logan counties. The area is defined by its extensive water management system, featuring numerous artificial drainage routes such as the Winkel Ditch, Day Ditch, and Main Ditch that feed into Crane Creek and Prairie Creek. These systems transformed the prairie into productive farmland, supported by the Illinois Central Gulf railroad that cuts diagonally across the terrain to connect the small town hubs.

Genealogists and local historians can locate several historic burial grounds, including Prairie Rest Cem near Delavan, Greenhill Cem, and the more secluded Thomas Cem to the south. The physical landscape is largely level, though it is punctuated by Buxtom Hill and the wooded area of Allens Grove. The presence of a Gravel Pit and a Radio Tower reflects the local industrial and communications infrastructure that served these farming communities during the late twentieth century.