1963 Map of Richvalley

About this map

The Wabash River and Eel River define the hydraulic character of this Indiana landscape, where the confluence of river systems and rail lines historically shaped the growth of small settlements like Richvalley and Erie. The corridor of the Norfolk and Western railroad runs parallel to the Wabash, connecting agricultural hubs and transit points. This 1963 revision, updated with 1981 photogrammetric data, reveals a transition toward modern land use with the appearance of the Trailer Park near Richvalley and a Roadside Park along the highway. Genealogists will find significant value in the burial grounds scattered across the townships, including the Francis Godfroy Cem and the Shambaugh Cem. The landscape is further marked by a dense network of drainage works such as Beamer Ditch and Stauffer Ditch, which converted the natural wetlands into the productive farmsteads that occupy Richland and Noble townships.