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1985 Map of Fairbury

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Fairbury
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1989
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1989

About this map

The Vermilion River and its numerous tributaries, including Rooks Creek and the South Fork Vermilion River, define the drainage of this central Illinois landscape. In the mid-1980s, the region's character was firmly established by its dense network of small agricultural settlements and a significant rail-to-road infrastructure. The city of Pontiac serves as a major focal point, notable for the presence of the Pontiac Correctional Center and its position at the intersection of historic U S 66 and Interstate 55.

Transit corridors dominate the map, showing the persistence of the Toledo Peoria and Western and the Illinois Central Gulf railroads as they connect towns like Fairbury, Forrest, and Chatsworth. These lines parallel U S 24, illustrating the linear development of the Prairie State's farming hubs. To the southwest, the reservoir of Lake Bloomington provides a distinct break from the surveyed grids of townships like Eppards Point and Belle Prairie.