1934 Map of Mattoon

About this map

Mattoon serves as the central hub of this mid-1930s landscape, where the New York Central and Illinois Central railroads intersect in a classic grid-iron city plan. This era shows the region's transition from purely agricultural to more complex water management, notably with the presence of Lake Mattoon and the adjacent State Fish Hatchery. The surrounding townships, including Lafayette and Paradise, are densely populated with small country schools like Little Brick Sch and Mound Sch, marking the rural education infrastructure before mid-century consolidation.