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1960 Map of Madison

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Madison
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

Crowleys Ridge dominates the western portion of this St. Francis County landscape, providing a sharp elevation contrast to the low-lying wetlands of the St Francis River basin. This topographic divide defines the local settlement patterns, with historic communities like Newcastle and Madison positioned near the ridge's edge or along the river's winding course. The 1960 survey, updated with 1976 aerial revisions, captures a network of rural life and transit, anchored by the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific railroad and numerous local landmarks like Doublehead Bluff and Burnt Mill Bluff.

Genealogists and local historians will find significant detail in the distribution of country churches and family burial grounds, including Dorriss Cem, New Sardis Cem, and Bells Chapel. The abundance of oxbow lakes, such as Horseshoe Lake, Kiethley Lake, and Island Lake, illustrates the dynamic nature of the river system before modern water control, while the Widener settlement serves as a primary hub in the eastern agricultural flats.