1960 Map of Shirley

About this map

Shirley sits at the tri-county junction of Madison, Hancock, and Henry counties, serving as a focal point for this agrarian landscape in the early 1960s. The town and nearby Wilkinson are linked by the New York Central railroad, which cuts a straight path across the southern portion of the map, also passing through Kennard. This corridor represents the area's primary industrial artery, while the surrounding townships of Adams, Fall Creek, Harrison, Brown, and Greensboro remain defined by a dense network of drainage ditches and small runs like Sixmile Creek, Sugar Creek, and Mott Run. Genealogists will find a wealth of specific landmarks, including several rural burial grounds such as Hess Cem, McCray Cem, and Collier Cem. The presence of the Township High Sch near Wilkinson and multiple community hubs like Center Chapel and Harlan Ch highlights the established social infrastructure of these small Indiana farming communities.