1925 Map of Raymond

About this map

Raymond and Harvel serve as the primary hubs for this section of Montgomery County, where the agricultural landscape is organized around a dense grid of rural schools and country churches. The map documents a period when the local economy relied heavily on rail corridors, with the Illinois Central and Wabash lines facilitating the transport of grain and livestock from settlements like Farmersville and Waggoner. An interesting historical detail is the abandoned segment of the Chicago and Alton railroad passing near Barnett, indicating early shifts in the region's transport network. The landscape is deeply carved by drainage systems including Macoupin Creek and Horse Creek, which dictated the placement of pioneer landmarks such as Providence Church and New Hope Church. Dozens of named schools, from Lone Elm School to Star Union School, reflect the high density of rural families in the 1920s.