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1960 Map of Defiance West

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Defiance West
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

The confluence of the Maumee River, Tiffin River, and Auglaize River dominates this 1960s study of northwestern Ohio, revealing a landscape defined by its waterways and transport history. The settlement of Defiance sits at the heart of this junction, where the remnants of the Miami and Erie Canal run parallel to the Wabash Railroad, illustrating the shift from nineteenth-century water transport to industrial rail. Small communities and landmarks like Brunersburg and the County Home are situated among the fertile bends of the rivers, which are still dotted with local heritage sites such as Hill Cemetery and the United Brethren Church.

Beyond the urban center, the map captures the transition to a grid of rural section roads like Shoemaker Road and Mulligans Bluff Road. The presence of the Bryan-Defiance Memorial Airport and several localized schools, including Banner School, marks the mid-century expansion of public infrastructure. Water features such as Oxbow Lake and Threemile Creek define the low-lying terrain, while numerous smaller family and community burial grounds, such as Kibble Cemetery and St Stephens Cemetery, provide valuable anchor points for genealogical research.