1970 Map of Benton Harbor

About this map

Benton Harbor and St Joseph anchor this coastal landscape where the St Joseph River meets Lake Michigan. The 1970s expansion of the urban area is clearly visible in the purple revisions, highlighting growth in residential areas like Fair Plain and Benton Heights. The map documents a complex social and religious geography, featuring the House of David estate alongside numerous local institutions such as Lake Michigan College and Mercy Hospital. The river forms a natural boundary between the two primary cities, with specialized riverfront features like Kings Landing and the Oxbow providing a look at the transition from industrial harbor to inland waterway. Further south, the rural character of Royalton Twp and Lincoln Twp is marked by scattered schools and churches, including Lakeshore High Sch and St Lukes Ch, showing the gradual sprawl away from the twin cities.