1986 Map of Melvin East

About this map

The agricultural landscape of central Illinois is defined by precise section lines and extensive drainage engineering in this mid-1980s record of Ford County. The village of Roberts serves as a primary hub in the northeast, while Melvin anchors the western edge of the sheet. The region's heavy reliance on water management is evident in the sprawling network of man-made waterways, most notably the Wall Town Ditch and the Big Four Ditch, which channel water across the townships of Lyman, Peach Orchard, and Wall. Transportation and infrastructure are represented by the Illinois Central Gulf railroad line, which cuts diagonally through the prairie. A Radio Tower and the Roberts Vortac aviation navigation aid stand as modern landmarks against the traditional rural backdrop near Germanville, providing insight into the technological layers added to this farming community during the late 20th century.