2018 Map of Tamms

About this map

Tamms and Olive Branch anchor the southern Illinois landscape of Alexander County, where the bottomlands of the Cache River meet the rising ground of the Gilson Hills. This modern survey reveals a region defined by extensive conservation and natural watercourses, including the Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge and the Shawnee National Forest. The map is particularly valuable for genealogical research, identifying numerous family-named burial sites such as Miller Cem, McRite Cem, and Hargis Cem scattered across the township lines. The southern portion of the quadrangle is dominated by the hydrologic complexity of the Horseshoe Lake area, where drainage features like Cypress Slough and Pigeon Roost Creek weave through the lowlands. Historic settlement patterns remain visible in smaller named localities like Diswood, Sandusky, and Unity, connected by a network of rural routes such as Old Mill Road and Sandy Creek Road.