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1996 Map of Stonefort

Name: 1996 Topographic Map of Stonefort
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1998
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1998

About this map

Stonefort and the adjacent Oldtown sit at the northern edge of this Southern Illinois landscape, where the flat agricultural fields of the north give way to the forested interior of the Shawnee National Forest. The map documents a dense network of rural life through the mid-1990s, anchored by numerous country churches such as Little Saline Ch and Olive Ch, and small cemeteries like Bolton Cem and Joyner Cem that reflect generations of local families.

The southern half of the quadrangle is defined by the protected acreage of the Burden Falls Wilderness and the Bay Creek Wilderness. Notable geological features include the Stonefort Bluff and the Bell Smith Springs Natural Landmark, where the Hiker Hunter Trail winds through complex drainage systems like Katy Reid Hollow and Jackson Hollow. This survey captures the area's transition from a settled farming community into a major regional destination for outdoor conservation and recreation.