1987 Map of Paducah

About this map

The confluence of the Ohio River and the Mississippi River anchors this regional study, which covers the strategic river hubs and rugged interior of Southern Illinois, Southeast Missouri, and Western Kentucky. In the late 1980s, this landscape was defined by its massive water bodies and public lands, including the sprawling Shawnee National Forest and the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge. Major population centers like Paducah, Cape Girardeau, and Carbondale are shown alongside smaller coal-belt and river towns such as Herrin, Metropolis, and Chester. The map details the complex hydraulic environment where the Tennessee River and Cumberland River meet the Ohio, creating massive impoundments at Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. This era represents a period of established interstate travel via Interstate 57 and Interstate 24, while still showing the rail networks of the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad and Missouri Pacific Railroad.