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1947 Map of Franklin

Name: 1947 Topographic Map of Franklin
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

Franklin serves as the focal point of this 1940s landscape, featuring prominent local institutions like Franklin College, the Masonic Home, and the Johnson County Memorial Hospital. The transition from the developed town to the rural outskirts is marked by the presence of the Franklin Airfield and the Sewage Disposal works along Youngs Creek. To the south, the landscape is heavily influenced by the sprawling Camp Atterbury Military Reservation, which includes specific wartime infrastructure such as Wakeman Hospital and a Prisoner of War Camp.

The topography shifts from the relatively flat reaches of Needham Township toward the more dissected terrain of the Johnson and Brown County line. This southern portion is dotted with small settlements like Spearsville and Fruitdale, alongside landmarks like Bearwallow Hill and the Tea Mountain Ridge. Historical transport is well-documented, with the Pennsylvania, New York Central, and Illinois Central railroads providing critical links for the region's agricultural and military centers.