1965 Map of Springfield East

About this map

Springfield and its eastern suburbs are shown here in the mid-1960s, a period of transition where traditional river-and-rail infrastructure met the expanding highway system. The Sangamon River and its South Fork anchor the landscape, which is marked by several significant burial grounds including the historic Camp Butler Cem and Roselawn Memorial Cemetery. Industrial activity is evident in the numerous Claypits and the presence of the Norfolk and Western and Illinois Terminal railroads. This survey provides a look at the area before later suburban development, preserving the locations of smaller communities like Bissell, Riverton, and Rochester. To the south, the recently established Lake Springfield and its Spaulding Dam have reshaped the local hydrology, while local landmarks like the St Johns Sanitarium and the Drive-in Theater reflect the social fabric of Sangamon County at the time.