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1986 Map of Indianapolis

Name: 1986 Topographic Map of Indianapolis
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1989
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1989

About this map

The Indianapolis metropolitan region and its surrounding agricultural plains appear here at a peak of late-century suburbanization. The radiating network of interstate highways, including I-465 and I-70, defines the growth of satellite communities like Plainfield, Carmel, and Greenwood. To the northeast, the Fort Benjamin Harrison Military Reservation stands as a significant military enclave before its eventual decommissioning.

The landscape is deeply influenced by water management and transit. The White River and Fall Creek cut through the urban core, while the Eagle Creek Reservoir and adjacent Eagle Creek Park provide essential recreation and utility on the west side. Beyond the city, smaller towns like Danville, Greencastle, and Franklin maintain their identities as county seats, connected by the sprawling Conrail railroad lines that continue to serve the region's industrial and agricultural transport needs.