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1966 Map of Makanda

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Makanda
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

Giant City State Park and the rugged landscapes of the Shawnee National Forest dominate this mid-century topographic survey of southern Illinois. The area around Makanda and Cobden is characterized by high ridges such as Tiptop Knob and the deep drainage of Drury Creek, while the northeast corner shows the managed waters of Little Grassy Lake within the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge. The Illinois Central railroad cuts through the terrain, serving a network of small settlements and rural communities.

Local history and genealogy researchers will find an exceptional density of family-named burial grounds, including Zimmerman Cem, Sheppard Cem, and Evergreen Cem. Notable landmarks such as the Water Valley Lookout Tower overlook the valley of Bradshaw Creek, while numerous country churches like Oak Grove Ch and Bethel Ch indicate the social centers of these ridge-and-hollow townships during the 1960s.