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1903 Map of Patoka

Name: 1903 Topographic Map of Patoka
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1903
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1903

About this map

The Wabash River and White River converge at the heart of this 1901-1902 survey, defining a landscape of complex waterways and floodplains along the Indiana-Illinois border. The regional hub of Mount Carmel stands prominently at the river bend, while Princeton and Owensville anchor the eastern uplands. This era of transit is marked by a dense network of competing rail lines, including the Southern RR and the Illinois Central RR, which connect river towns like Grayville and Rochester to the interior.

Finer details reveal the early 20th-century social geography, from the County Farm near Princeton to the Parker's Settlement in the south. The river's natural features, such as the Grand Rapids and Hanging Rock, appear alongside significant terrain landmarks like Mc. Clearys Bluff and Skelton Cliff. The map also captures the intricate system of oxbows and islands, including Little Fox Island and Fox Island, illustrating the shifting hydrology before modern channelization.