1965 Map of Mount Vernon

About this map

The city of Mount Vernon serves as the focal point of this Jefferson County survey, shown during a period of mid-century expansion. The landscape is defined by a dense network of civic and social infrastructure, including the State Sanatorium, Childrens Home, and the Mt Vernon State Game Farm. The map captures the convergence of significant rail lines, such as the Chicago and Eastern Illinois, which facilitated the region's industrial growth. Outside the city limits, the rural character remains intact with several family and community landmarks like Old Shiloh Cem and Wolf Prairie Cem. Numerous Oil Wells dot the southern fields of Field and McClellan townships, indicating the importance of resource extraction to the local economy. Water features like Peckerwood Lake and the Big Muddy River frame the western boundaries, while numerous rural schools like West Salem Sch anchor the outlying settlements.