Loading map...

1957 Map of Paxton

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Paxton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

Chanute Air Force Base anchors the southern portion of this mid-century survey, showcasing its extensive runway and facility layout just north of Thomasboro. The surrounding Ford and Champaign County landscape is defined by its transition from prairie sloughs to a structured agricultural and military grid. Significant rural infrastructure includes the Illinois Central and the New York Chicago and St Louis railroads, which facilitated the growth of towns like Paxton and Rantoul.

Genealogists will find a wealth of specific local landmarks, from family-named cemeteries like Meharry Cem and Huffman Cem to small community hubs like St Alfreds Chapel. The map documents the shifting educational landscape of the late 1950s, noting several decommissioned sites such as Hall Sch (Abandoned) and Gray Sch (Abandoned), providing a clear record of rural school consolidation in East Central Illinois.