1984 Map of Mattoon East

About this map

Mattoon and its surrounding countryside are captured here in the mid-1980s, revealing a landscape defined by industrial expansion and rural continuity. The eastern reaches of the city meet the agricultural expanses of Lafayette and Pleasant Grove, where smaller outposts like Lerna, Loxa, and Trilla dot the rail corridors. Transportation infrastructure is a dominant theme, with the Illinois Central Gulf and Conrail lines carving through the prairie, supporting the regional economy alongside the Coles County Memorial Airport. Significant local landmarks include a Drive-In Theater and a Nature Preserve, contrasting mid-century entertainment with environmental conservation. The drainage patterns of Kickapoo Creek and Indian Fk Creek provide the primary relief to the otherwise level Illinois terrain, illustrating how these waterways dictated early settlement and land use across the county line near Charleston.