1938 Map of Petersburg

About this map

Petersburg serves as the focal point of this 1930s landscape, where the Sangamon River carves a winding path through Central Illinois. The map reveals an agrarian economy heavily reliant on rail transport, with the Illinois Central and Alton railroads connecting rural settlements like Oakford, Easton, and Atterbury P O. This era shows a high density of country schools and named groves, such as Sears Grove Sch and Haw Grove Sch, suggesting a community structure built around small local precincts. Industrial activity is concentrated along the river and rail corridors, evidenced by the Riverside Mine and a Hemp Factory near the Menard county seat. Notable for genealogists are the numerous family-named landmarks and burial grounds, including the Watkins Cem and Concord Cem, which provide a clear record of local settlement patterns before the mid-century consolidation of rural districts.