1986 Map of Melvin West

About this map

Peach Orchard and Sullivan townships characterize this central Illinois landscape in the mid-1980s, an area defined by its regular grid of section roads and agricultural infrastructure. The villages of Melvin and Sibley anchor the eastern and western edges of the sheet, while the smaller settlement of Guthrie sits near the southern boundary. This period of land management is marked by extensive drainage efforts, most notably the Big Four Ditch, which cuts diagonally through the townships to manage the flat prairie terrain. Industrial and utility landmarks including a Pumping Station and Substation are scattered across the quadrangle, reflecting the modernized infrastructure of the late 20th-century rural Midwest. The map also captures the boundary where Livingston and Ford Counties meet, providing a detailed record of local jurisdictional lines and township divisions such as Germanville and Dix.