2022 Map of Bear Branch

About this map

Laughery Creek and its many tributaries, including South Fork Laughery Creek and Hayes Branch, carve a complex drainage pattern through the borderlands of Dearborn, Ohio, and Switzerland counties. This landscape is defined by elevated ridges such as Sangamaw Ridge and Mexico Ridge, where small rural settlements like Farmers Retreat and Bear Branch are situated. The 2022 survey reveals a deeply established network of family and community landmarks, particularly evident in the numerous burial grounds like Saint Johns Lutheran Cem and Mount Hebron Cem. The settlement pattern follows the high ground, with roads like Milton Bear Branch Rd connecting the scattered hamlets. This area remains largely defined by its natural topography, with names like Posky Hollow and Baum Hollow indicating the varied elevation of the Indiana countryside.