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1952 Map of Birmingham

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Birmingham
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

Birmingham and its neighboring Oakland County suburbs appear in the midst of mid-century residential expansion, with a dense network of country schools and family cemeteries still dotting the landscape. The iconic Shrine of the Little Flower stands at the southern edge near Royal Oak, while the Grand Trunk RR cuts a diagonal path through the growing heart of the city. The map reveals the academic character of the northwest, defined by the Cranbrook campus and its associated institutions like Kingswood Sch.

A notable mix of leisure and infrastructure is evident, from the Sylvan Glen Golf Course to the Drive-in Theater near Clawson. Local history is grounded in specific educational landmarks, such as the Leonard Sch (Abandoned), which suggests the shifting demographics of the era. The area's transition from rural townships to a contiguous suburban corridor is further highlighted by planned greenspaces like Dodge Bros State Park No 6 and numerous cemeteries including Acacia Park Cemetery and White Chapel Cemetery.