1989 Map of Helena

About this map

Escanaba River State Forest dominates this section of Marquette County, characterized by a complex network of wetlands and small watercourses. The tiny settlement of Helena sits along the eastern edge of the quadrangle, serving as a waypoint for the Chicago and North Western railroad which cuts through the forest. The landscape is defined by its low-lying hydrology, specifically the expansive Cyrus Swamp and drainage systems like Sawmill Creek and Mud Creek. Surveyed primarily in the 1950s and updated in the late 1980s, the map illustrates the persistence of the state forest lands and the sparse development of the northern Michigan interior. Aside from the rail line and a single primary road, the terrain remains largely untouched, preserving the natural drainage patterns that feed into the larger Escanaba River system.