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1917 Map of Chesaning

Name: 1917 Topographic Map of Chesaning
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1917
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1917

About this map

The Shiawassee River meanders northward through this 1917 survey, serving as the central artery for a landscape defined by its agricultural and early industrial transition. Along the riverbanks, the settlements of Chesaning, Oakley, and Parshallburg appear as established hubs connected by the Michigan Central and Ann Arbor railroads. A rare industrial marker in this rural setting is the Sixmile Mine located near New Haven, highlighting the localized coal mining efforts that once supplemented the region's dominant farming economy.

Researchers will find an exceptionally dense network of early 20th-century rural infrastructure, including dozens of family-named schools like Ziegler School, Albert School, and Dygert School. The map's detailed drainage system, featuring names like Blackmer Drain and Fairchild Creek, illustrates the extensive land reclamation required for the development of Saginaw and Shiawassee Counties. Local history is further preserved through small burial grounds such as Swimm Cemetery and Griffus Cemetery, providing a precise record of the communities that built these townships.