1981 Map of Shelbyville

About this map

The Kaskaskia River and the massive impoundment of Lake Shelbyville dominate this central Illinois landscape, showing the dramatic transformation of the river valley into a major recreation and water management hub. The city of Shelbyville serves as the focal point, where the Shelbyville Dam West Access Area and Shelbyville Dam East Access Area mark the engineering that reshaped the local geography. The map captures a detailed transition between the established street grid of the county seat—featuring the Courthouse, Hospital, and schools like Main St Sch and Vine St Sch—and the surrounding rural landscape defined by township boundaries such as Okaw and Rose. Numerous family and community burial grounds, including Glenwood Cem, Oliver Cem, and Smith Cem, are scattered across the uplands, offering significant data for genealogical research. Transportation patterns are clearly delineated by the Conrail lines and the Shelby County Airport, illustrating the region's 1980s infrastructure.