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2017 Map of Big Rapids

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

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

Big Rapids serves as the focal point of this Mecosta County landscape, situated along a prominent bend of the Muskegon River. The city's layout is defined by its educational and transportation infrastructure, notably the campus of Ferris State Univ and the Roben-Hood Airport to the northwest. A significant recreational corridor, the Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park, follows a former rail alignment through the heart of the community and south toward Rogers Dam Pond, illustrating the region's transition from an industrial timber-and-rail hub to a modern center for education and outdoor recreation.

Outside the urban center, the terrain is dotted with numerous glacial lakes and small watercourses, including Youngs Lake, Clear Lake, and Higginson Cr. The rural sections are anchored by several historic burial grounds, such as Highland View Cem and the more remote South Grant Cem, which provide valuable location data for genealogists. The map also captures the varied hydrography of the southern reaches, where Byers Cr and Cold Spring Cr feed into the river system.