1941 Map of St. Elmo

About this map

Saint Elmo and Altamont anchor a landscape defined by the intersection of major rail lines and rural industry during the early 1940s. The region is heavily influenced by the presence of the Carter Refinery, which appears twice as a primary landmark, suggesting a burgeoning petroleum economy alongside traditional agriculture. A dense network of one-room schools, such as Martin Box Sch, Pleasant Plains Sch, and Prairie Cottage Sch, provides a detailed look at the local educational geography before the era of school consolidation.