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1973 Map of Essex

Name: 1973 Topographic Map of Essex
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

Reed Mines dominate the northwestern landscape of this Illinois quadrangle, showing the extensive earth-moving and water-filled pits of the local coal industry. This industrial footprint is bordered by the Gulf Mobile and Ohio and Norfolk and Western railroads, which helped facilitate the region's transport network. The village of Essex serves as a central hub, while smaller clusters like Godley, Torino, and Clarke City highlight the scattered settlement patterns typical of this mining and agricultural district.

Waterways define the eastern and southern reaches, where the Kankakee River cuts across the northeast corner and the winding Horse Creek flows through the central plains. For those tracing family histories, the map identifies several local burial sites, including North Essex Cem, South Essex Cem, and Mount Olivet Cem. The geography is further detailed by the confluence of Granary Creek, Crane Creek, and the West Branch and East Branch streams.