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1931 Map of Meredosia

Name: 1931 Topographic Map of Meredosia
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1931
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1931

About this map

The Illinois River serves as the central artery of this 1931 survey, shaping the local economy and geography of the river towns. At Meredosia, the Wabash RR crosses the waterway, while the La Grange Locks and South Beardstown Pumping Station indicate the intensive hydraulic engineering of the era. The floodplain is a complex network of backwaters like Meredosia Lake and Barlow Lake, contrasting with the higher bluffs to the west where towns like Versailles and Chambersburg sit.

A remarkably high density of rural schoolhouses, such as Hambaugh Sch, Lydia Sch, and Adams Sch, suggests a well-distributed agrarian population before the mid-century trend toward school consolidation. Transport relies on key crossings like the Star Bridge over Crooked Creek and the Varder Bridge, providing a detailed look at the infrastructure of the Illinois valley during the early twentieth century.