1981 Map of Merna

About this map

The Mackinaw River winds through the northeast corner of this central Illinois landscape, defining the rural character of the Lexington and Money Creek townships. In the early 1980s, this area remained primarily agricultural, anchored by small settlements like Merna and Fletcher. The Illinois Central Gulf railroad cuts diagonally across the northern section, a vital transit link for the region's farming economy. Distinctive infrastructure such as the Gas Storage Area in the north and the Schlosser Landing Strip near Merna illustrates the specialized land use during this period. Local heritage is preserved in several burial grounds, including Indian Field Cem and Smith Grove Cem, which serve as quiet markers of the community's ancestral roots near the banks of Patton Creek and Crooked Creek.