Loading map...

1987 Map of Freesoil

Name: 1987 Topographic Map of Freesoil
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1988
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1988

About this map

Freesoil and Fountain anchor this late-1980s landscape within the Manistee National Forest, where the industrial legacy of the C & O RR corridor meets a dense network of glacial lakes and river branches. The northern terrain is defined by the winding course of the Big Sable River and the high-security grounds of Camp Sauble State Prison. Moving south, the map reveals a shift toward agricultural and woodland management, dotted with water bodies like Gun Lake, Lake Meade, and Thunder Lake.

This provisional survey documents the rural character of Mason County before significant modern development, showing the proximity of small settlements like Batcheller to the riparian corridors of the North Branch Lincoln River and South Branch Lincoln River. For local historians and genealogists, the map provides a precise record of late-20th-century land use, from the National Forest Substation to various Gravel Pit operations that supported the regional infrastructure.