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1981 Map of Fancher

Name: 1981 Topographic Map of Fancher
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1982
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1982

About this map

The Kaskaskia River snakes through the heart of Shelby County, creating a deeply dissected landscape where woodland and agriculture meet. This early 1980s landscape is defined by its rural infrastructure, featuring the historic Thompson Mill Covered Bridge and other vital crossings like Moore Bridge and Copeland Bridge. The settlement of Fancher sits at a rail junction between the Norfolk and Western and the Baltimore and Ohio railroads, reflecting the transportation network that once sustained these small agricultural communities.

Genealogists will find a wealth of family-named landmarks and rural burial grounds, including the Gallagher Chapel Cem, Askins Cem Neel Cem, and Mound Cem. The map also documents localized industrial activity such as an Oil Field, various Gravel Pits, and a Mine near the river. From the water tank in Cowden to the Moffett Landing Strip, the sheet records a specific moment in the development of southern Illinois.