1910 Map of Murphysboro

About this map

Murphysboro serves as the focal point of this Southern Illinois landscape, situated at the confluence of a busy rail network and the Muddy River. The 1938 revision highlights a region defined by its transition from the agricultural plains of Vergennes to the dissected terrain of Levan. A dense network of one-room schoolhouses, such as Cox Prairie School and Forest School, illustrates the rural community structure of the early 20th century. Transportation is dominated by the Mobile and Ohio RR and the Illinois Central RR, which intersect at critical nodes like Texas Junction. The presence of landmarks like Grange Hall and Bethel Church underscores the social centers of these small settlements before the expansion of modern highways altered the local geography.