1950 Map of Effingham

About this map

The Little Wabash River and its tributaries carve a winding path through this central Illinois landscape, centered on the growing regional hub of Effingham. This 1950 survey documents a transition in transportation, showing the busy Pennsylvania and Illinois Central rail lines crossing near the city center alongside U. S. Highway 40. Local history is deeply etched into the rural townships, from the vanished river settlement of Funkhouser to the numerous country schoolhouses like Defiance Sch and Miller Chapel that once anchored these farming communities. Outside the main city, small villages such as Altamont, Watson, and Shumway maintain their distinct identities, while landmarks like the County Airport and Radio Tower WCRA signal the mid-century modernization of the county seat.