2011 Map of Bear Town

About this map

The Sturgeon River and its intricate tributaries dominate this Northern Michigan landscape, where the meandering waterways of Otter River and Kelsey Creek define the local geography. In the early 21st century, this area of Baraga County remains characterized by rural roads bearing family names such as Karyakko, Tartinen, and Moiberg, reflecting the region’s ancestral settlement patterns. The small community of Bear Town sits east of the river valley, while the village of Baraga occupies the southeastern corner. Transportation and infrastructure are concentrated around the Baraga Airport and a network of named local routes. Local history is anchored by the Keweenaw Bay Cemetery in the north and features like Bendry Lake and Gristmill Creek that highlight the area's natural drainage into the Great Lakes basin.