1961 Map of Banfield

About this map

Kellogg Biological Station (Michigan State University) anchors the southwestern corner of this Barry County landscape, representing a significant scientific and educational presence in the rural countryside. The terrain is defined by a complex glacial topography of swamps and water bodies, ranging from the expansive Fine Lake and Stony Lake to smaller basins like Little Gilkey Lake and School Pond. The local community centers on the village of Banfield, where social and civic life is marked by the Banfield Sch and Banfield Cem. Scattered schoolhouses like King Sch and Kirby Sch indicate the historic distribution of rural education districts. These 1961 revisions reveal a network of winding country roads connecting outlying settlements such as Bristol Corners and Hickory Corners, illustrating the mid-century transition of this lake-strewn region from isolated farming plots to a more interconnected rural community.