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1963 Map of Walpole

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Walpole
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

Oil fields and scattered oil wells define the industrial footprint of this Hamilton and Saline County borderland during the early 1960s. The landscape is a network of small, rural crossroads communities such as Walpole, Rector, and Unity, many of which grew around early post offices and schools. This period shows the transition from traditional agriculture to a hybrid economy of farming and petroleum extraction, with numerous family-named landmarks and rural institutions remaining as focal points.

Genealogists can trace deep local roots through a high density of country churches and burial grounds, including Rhine Cem Ch, Durham Cem, and Barton Cem. The map provides detailed topography of the South Twigg and Long Branch drainage systems, showing how these waterways influenced the placement of early settlements like Braden and Olga. Fine red dashed lines throughout the quadrangle indicate field boundaries and fence lines, offering a rare look at the mid-century land-use patterns across the southern Illinois prairie.