1981 Map of Loraine

About this map

Loraine stands as the primary hub in this West-Central Illinois landscape during the early 1980s, situated near the headwaters of the South Fork Bear Creek. The area is defined by its small crossroads settlements and a dense network of family-named cemeteries that speak to generations of local agricultural history. Moving north across the Hancock Co Adams Co line, the terrain shifts into St Albans and Chili townships, where the small communities of Stillwell and Chili are connected by section-line roads. This survey documents a quiet rural economy, evidenced by several private aviation facilities like the Hemming Landing Strip and the Clair Landing Strip. Cultural landmarks such as Centennial Ebenezer Ch and Paulton Park anchor the social life of the communities, while the numerous burial grounds including Old Loraine Cem and Webster Cem provide a clear record of early settler footprints across the prairie.