1903 Map of Petersburg

About this map

The White River and the winding Patoka River define the landscape of Pike and Gibson Counties at the turn of the century. This survey records a transitional industrial era, most notably preserving the route of the Erie Canal (Abandoned) as it cuts through Dongola. The southern portion of the quadrangle is punctuated by hills such as Kennedy Hill and Wilson Hill, while the rail infrastructure of the Southern R. R. and the Evansville and Indianapolis R. R. supports the region's growing coal interests. Local mining activity is prominent east of Oakland City, with the Massey Mine, Klondike Mine, and Ingle Mine all clearly marked. These early pits and shafts represent the beginning of the coal industry that would reshape this part of southern Indiana. Many small settlements, including Coats Springs and Wheeling, are shown connected by a dense network of country roads before the arrival of modern highways.