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1981 Map of Birmingham

Name: 1981 Topographic Map of Birmingham
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1989
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1989

About this map

Birmingham and the neighboring communities of Troy, Royal Oak, and Berkley define the landscape of southern Oakland County in this early 1980s record. The Grand Trunk Western railroad corridor slices through the region, providing the industrial backbone for the residential growth radiating from Woodward Ave. The map captures a transitional era where traditional neighborhood schools like Quarton Sch and Seaholm High Sch are surrounded by intensifying suburban development, indicated by updated urban areas in purple.

Along the upper reaches of the Rouge River, the terrain is punctuated by expansive grounds including White Chapel Cemetery and the Sylvan Glen Golf Course. Aviation interests are represented by the Troy-Oakland Airport, while local landmarks like the Shrine of the Little Flower and Acacia Park Cemetery serve as significant regional anchors. This survey documents the mature suburban fabric of the Detroit metropolitan fringe before further modern infill altered the character of classic enclaves like Bloomfield Hills and Lathrup Village.