1985 Map of Springfield

About this map

The Sangamon River valley and its surrounding central Illinois prairie were undergoing significant suburban and infrastructure development by the mid-1980s. This planimetric study documents the expansion of Springfield toward the southeast, where Lake Springfield and Sangchris Lake serve as major hydrological and recreational hubs. The map highlights the region's deep connection to Abraham Lincoln through the preservation of the Lincoln Home Nat Hist Site and Lincoln's New Salem State Park near Petersburg. Transportation networks dominate the landscape, with the Illinois Central Gulf and Norfolk and Western railroads intersecting the grid of U.S. 66 and newer state routes. The presence of Sangamon State Univ and Lincoln Land Jr College reflects the area's growth as an educational center, while industrial roots remain visible in settlements like Decatur and Illiopolis.