Loading map...

1950 Map of Tuscola

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Tuscola
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1952
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1952

About this map

The Kaskaskia River and its tributaries define the flat, productive landscape of Central Illinois at mid-century, where the convergence of several major railroads drove the development of rural agricultural hubs. At the heart of this grid is Tuscola, a critical junction where the Illinois Central, Baltimore and Ohio, and Chicago and Eastern Illinois railroads meet, facilitating the shipment of grain from surrounding townships.

The 1950s data reveals a transition in the rural education system, with several country schoolhouses such as Chambers Sch, Maley Sch, and Stewart Sch already marked as inactive. Genealogists will find a dense distribution of family and community burial grounds, including O'Bryan Cem along the river and St Joseph Cem further north. Local industry and infrastructure are noted through features like the Sewage Disposal facility in Tuscola and the small Cooper Landing Field to the south.