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2017 Map of Alto

Name: 2017 Topographic Map of Alto
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2017
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

The Thornapple River and Coldwater River converge in this southeastern corner of Kent County, defining a landscape of glacial kettle lakes and historical river crossings. Several small communities, including Whitneyville, McCords, and Alaska, serve as focal points for local history, each often identified by its own community cemetery such as Whitneyville Cem or the Alaska Memorial Cem. The area’s geography is heavily shaped by water, with large bodies like Campau Lake and Morse Lake punctuating the rural township sections.

Agricultural patterns are evidenced by the regular grid of county roads, while the southern boundary marks the transition at the Kent and Barry County line. Genealogists and local historians can trace legacy sites like Saint Patricks Cem or Barber Cem, which remain as enduring landmarks of the region's early settlement. The presence of the Clarke and Bunker Drain illustrates the long-standing management of the local watershed to support the surrounding farmland.