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1987 Map of West Frankfort

Name: 1987 Topographic Map of West Frankfort
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1987
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1987

About this map

The confluence of the Ohio River and Wabash River anchors the southeastern corner of this Illinois landscape, where riverfront commerce and industrial extraction shaped local development. During the late twentieth century, the region's economy is clearly defined by extensive Strip Mine operations concentrated between Harrisburg and Carriers Mills. This industrial footprint contrasts sharply with the protected terrain of the Shawnee National Forest and the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge to the west, where the Big Muddy River system drains the agricultural and timbered uplands.

Genealogists and local historians can trace the network of small communities such as Stonefort, New Haven, and Shawneetown connected by major transit corridors like Illinois 13 and the Illinois Central Railroad. The map captures the physical evidence of the coal industry's influence on settlement patterns, showing how towns like West Frankfort and Benton grew alongside rail lines and mineral deposits during this era of intensive resource management.