1978 Map of Hancock

About this map

Hancock and the neighboring community of Ripley anchor this orthophotoquad, which uses aerial photography from October 1978 to document the Keweenaw Peninsula's landscape. The imagery provides a clear view of the concentrated street grids in the south compared to the rural inland settlements of Paavola and Boston. This particular survey is notable for its depiction of the Portage Lake Ship Canal, showing the vital waterway cutting north toward Lake Superior. The transition from the dense urban development along Portage Lake to the agricultural and forested patches further north highlights the region's mid-century spatial organization. Small drainages like Muggun Creek are visible as they meander through the varied terrain, offering researchers a literal snapshot of land use before subsequent modern developments changed these Copper Country communities.