1966 Map of Union

About this map

The town of Union serves as a focal point in this survey of central Franklin County, characterized by the convergence of the Chicago and Rock Island Pacific railroad and the winding Bourbeuse River. In the mid-1960s, the landscape was primarily rural, dotted with small communities like Jeffriesburg, Krakow, and Neier. The map reveals a high density of local history markers, particularly family and church cemeteries such as Meyer Cem, Peters Cem, and St Johns Ch (Cem). Notable landmarks include the Courthouse in the county seat and the Radio Tower (KLPW) north of town. The terrain is deeply dissected by numerous creeks, including St Johns Creek, Flat Creek, and Buescher Creek, reflecting a land shaped by its drainage into the Bourbeuse. Revisions from 1978 and 1980, shown in purple, document the expanding residential footprint of Union toward the river and along major transit corridors.