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1959 Map of Frontier

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Frontier
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

Agricultural and recreation patterns in southern Hillsdale County appear in high detail on this mid-century survey. Small settlements like Frontier and Ransom anchor the southern townships, while the northern portion of the sheet is defined by the New York Central railroad corridor and the glacial hydrology of the East Branch St. Joseph River. The landscape is dotted with small-scale industry in the form of numerous Gravel Pits, alongside several family and community burial grounds including Morgan Cem and Wild Cherry Cem.

The central lake district around Bird Lake shows a localized cluster of activity, with nearby Fountain Park and Shadyside indicating the area's role as a local destination. Complex drainage features like the Nile Ditch and the winding Silver Creek illustrate the historical effort to manage the local wetlands for farming. This map provides a valuable look at rural Michigan before modern consolidation, preserving the locations of vanished property boundaries and early rural infrastructure.