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1953 Map of Fort Wayne

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Fort Wayne
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

The industrial and agricultural heart of the Tri-State region converges at Fort Wayne, where the St Marys River and St Joseph River meet to form the Maumee River. This mid-century survey illustrates a landscape defined by its heavy rail infrastructure and a dense network of post-war highways. The New York Central and Pennsylvania railroads bisect the terrain, connecting manufacturing hubs like Elkhart and Goshen to the broader eastern United States.

Beyond the urban centers, the map details the glacial lake country of Northeast Indiana and Southern Michigan. Significant water bodies such as Lake Wawasee, Tippecanoe Lake, and Diamond Lake are shown alongside smaller features like Misery Mountain. The transition into Ohio is marked by the course of the Tiffin River and the emerging path of the Indiana Toll Road, reflecting a period of rapid transportation development that reshaped local commerce and regional travel patterns.