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1959 Map of Karbers Ridge

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Karbers Ridge
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

Shawnee National Forest dominates this Southern Illinois landscape, where the rugged terrain of the Shawnee Hills meets the agricultural clearings of the mid-20th century. The area is defined by sharp topographic shifts, notably at Pounds Escarpment and the geologic uplift of Hicks Dome. Settlement is clustered around Karbers Ridge and Sparks Hill, connected by a network of winding roads that follow the ridges above deeply cut drainage basins like Eagle Creek and Goose Creek.

Family history is deeply rooted in this quadrangle, evidenced by a high density of rural burial grounds such as Sneed Cem, Pyle Cem, and Holbrook Cem. Community life centered on institutions like Good Hope Ch and Karbers Ridge Sch, while industry is represented by small-scale extraction sites including the Hamp Mine and Blue Blaze Mine. The presence of the Lookout Tower atop High Knob reflects the forest management practices of the era.