1940 Map of Paducah

About this map

Paducah serves as the industrial and transit hub of this riverine landscape, where the confluence of the Ohio River, Tennessee River, and Clarks River creates a complex network of waterways and islands like Owens Island and Cuba Towhead. The era's transportation infrastructure is clearly defined by the Illinois Central RR and the Nashville Chattanooga and St Louis RR, which support the regional economy alongside the West Paducah PO. North of the river, the Illinois side features the town of Metropolis and the adjacent Massac State Park, while the rural hinterlands are densely marked with local institutions such as Palestine Ch, High Point Sch, and the County Sanitarium. The map documents a period of transition, with cultural details revised in 1940 using aerial photography to capture the growing footprint of settlements like Lone Oak, Reidland, and Woodlawn against the older farming landscape of Black Bottom.