1952 Map of Xenia

About this map

The village of Xenia sits at the intersection of a developing energy landscape and traditional agriculture during the early 1950s. The Baltimore and Ohio railroad cuts a direct east-west path through the center of the sheet, anchoring settlements like Kenner and supporting the industrial output of the Xenia Oil Field and North Kenner Oil Field. Beyond the rail corridors, the terrain is defined by a dense network of rural infrastructure, including dozens of country schools such as Lincoln Sch and Oak Mound Sch, alongside local landmarks like the Christian Temple. To the south, the Skillet Fork river meanders through the landscape near Orchardville, while smaller hamlets like Johnsonville and Zenith mark the intersections of county roads. The map reveals a transition in rural education, specifically noting the Lone Star Sch (Abandoned), signaling the early stages of consolidation in these Southern Illinois communities.