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2017 Map of Big Bend

Name: 2017 Topographic Map of Big Bend
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2017
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

The Muskegon River meanders through a landscape of glacial lakes and managed woodlands within the Manistee National Forest. This 2017 survey highlights the dramatic serpentine curve of the river at Big Bend, just north of where the waters widen into the Hardy Dam Pond. The map reveals a dispersed rural settlement pattern typical of Newaygo County, punctuated by historic burying grounds like Goodwell Cem, Fairview Cem, and West Aetna Cem.

Water is the defining characteristic of this terrain, from the isolated basins of Pearson Lake and Pickerel Lake to the recreational spaces of Oxbow Park. The network of section-line roads, including 9 Mile Rd and Old State Rd, connects these natural features with small community markers like the Saint Peters Cem, providing a detailed look at the interface between the forest boundary and local township life.