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1954 Map of Central Lake

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Central Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1967
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1967

About this map

Grand Traverse Bay and the northern reaches of Torch Lake anchor this mid-century survey of the Chain O' Lakes region. The landscape is defined by its complex glacial hydrology, where smaller basins like Skinner Lake, Matchett Lake, and Intermediate Lake are connected by short, winding streams. The village of Central Lake serves as a primary hub, situated where the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad corridor tracks the eastern shoreline of the inland waters.

Rural life in the 1950s is evidenced by numerous local institutions, including the Greenwood Grange Sch and the Gospel Center Ch. Along the Lake Michigan coast, the tiny settlement of Norwood and the landmark dune at Old Baldy overlook the vast open water. For genealogists, the map preserves the locations of community anchors like the Bay View Cem and Lake View Cem, providing a clear record of the settlement pattern before the expansion of modern seasonal development.