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2014 Map of Empire

Name: 2014 Topographic Map of Empire
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2014
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2014

About this map

Empire stands at the heart of this coastal landscape, situated along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. The topography is dominated by the shifting sands and high elevations of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, including landmarks such as the Sleeping Bear and Old Baldy Dune. The interface between the lake and the interior is marked by several small water bodies like North Bar Lake, South Bar Lake, and Taylor Lake, which illustrate the glacial hydrology characteristic of the region.

Local history is preserved in several burial grounds, including Maple Grove Cem and Empire Catholic Cem, providing specific points of interest for genealogists. The map also documents the transition from the Leelanau to Benzie county line in the south near Otter Creek. Transport and infrastructure are represented by the Empire Airport and a network of local roads such as W Empire Hwy and S Leelanau Hwy that connect the village to the surrounding dunes and hills.