1963 Map of Thompsonville

About this map

The industrial and rural character of Franklin County is clearly defined in this early 1960s survey, particularly where the Illinois Central railroad cuts through the terrain. The coal mining history of the region is anchored by the Orient No 5 Mine and associated infrastructure like the Tailings Pond and Pumphouse, reflecting the extractive economy that shaped southern Illinois. Small settlements like Parrish, Akin, and Hanaford appear alongside a dense network of family and community landmarks, including Swofford Cem and Antioch Ch. The landscape is further shaped by water management and resource extraction, with numerous Oil Well symbols dotting the landscape near Thompsonville and the significant footprint of the West Frankfort City Lake and West Frankfort Reservoir to the south. This map captures the transition between organized coal operations and the quiet, cemetery-dotted agricultural townships of Ewing and Benton.