GIS Research and Map Collection

Ball State University Libraries’ Historic Topographic Maps Reveal Location of Submerged Town

From The Indianapolis Star:

The drought in Indiana has revealed a formerly submerged town in Huntington County in northeast Indiana.  Salamonie Reservoir was constructed in 1967, and the town formerly called “Monument City” was evacuated and submerged.  In the severe drought conditions this summer, the reservoir level is down 14 feet, exposing the foundations of houses and a school and a usable road.  The Department of Natural Resources has closed the town to visitors in order to protect artifacts.

The top map above (click to enlarge) is a USGS topographic map of Andrews from the Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC).  The map details the terrain of the area as surveyed in 1950 and shows the location of Monument City.  The small cross to the west of Monument City depicts the location of a cemetery.

The second map (click to enlarge) is the same USGS topographic map of Andrews from the GRMC that was published in 1994.  The location of the Monument City Memorial Cemetery north of the former town shows where the cemetery was transplanted before the construction of the reservoir.

The GRMC maintains a collection of historic and current topographic maps from the U.S. Geological Survey covering the entire United States for research showing development.  Maps from the GRMC may circulate for two weeks or longer.

For more information, please contact the GRMC Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 4:30 during the summer at 765-285-1097.