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1948 Map of Fairfield

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Fairfield
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1948
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

Fairfield serves as the focal point of this Wayne County landscape, where the Southern and Baltimore and Ohio railroads intersect to drive the regional economy. The map reveals a dense network of early rural social life, evidenced by the numerous schools and churches that served the outlying farming communities. Notable settlements include Jeffersonville Geff PO and Mill Shoals, while the countryside is dotted with family-named landmarks like the Crews Cem and Posey Cem.

The terrain is defined by the drainage systems of the Little Wabash River and Skillet Fork, which shape the agricultural layout. Many one-room schools, such as Pure Gold Sch and Thomas Prairie Sch, illustrate the educational infrastructure of the late 1940s before modern consolidation. This survey captures a specific moment in Illinois history when small-town rail junctions remained the primary conduits for trade and community connection.