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1940 Map of Springfield

Name: 1940 Topographic Map of Springfield
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

Springfield stands as a dense grid of urban growth surrounded by a network of rural school districts and small rail settlements in this pre-war landscape. The city is bordered by significant landmarks including the Oak Ridge Cemetery and the State Fair Grounds to the north, while the southern edge is defined by the recently formed Lake Springfield and its Spaulding Dam. This era of the capital city shows a complex intersection of major railroads like the Wabash and Illinois Central, which serviced both the industrial center and outlying villages like Riverton and Athens.

Beyond the city limits, the land is carved by the Sangamon River and its various oxbows such as Horseshoe Lake and Halfmoon Lake. A notable historical detail is the Lindbergh Air Mail Field west of town, reflecting early aviation history in Central Illinois. Dozens of rural schoolhouses, including Poffenberger Sch and American Hill Sch, dot the township sections, offering a precise look at the localized social geography of Sangamon County before mid-century consolidation.