1961 Map of Beaverdam

About this map

Beaverdam and Lafayette anchor this early 1960s survey of western Ohio, where the grid of Congress Lands defines the landscape. The Chicago and St Louis RR and New York RR intersect here, reflecting the heavy rail infrastructure that supported local agriculture and trade. The area is dense with family-named burial grounds and rural congregational centers, such as Gratz Cem, Woodland Cem, and Emmanuel Ch. Waterways including the Ottawa River, Hog Creek, and Sugar Creek carve through the farm lots, often flanked by small woodlots and gravel extractions. The presence of Grange Hall near Emmanuel Ch highlights the importance of agricultural fraternal organizations in the mid-century social fabric of Richland and Jackson townships.