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1915 Map of Houghton

Name: 1915 Topographic Map of Houghton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1947
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1947

About this map

Copper mining operations and the intricate rail systems of the Keweenaw Peninsula define this landscape during the early twentieth century. Concentrated around the population centers of Hancock and Houghton, the map reveals a dense network of industrial infrastructure, including the Copper Range and Electric RR lines that linked burgeoning company towns. Notable mining sites such as Franklin Mine and Atlantic Mine appear alongside smaller worker settlements like Coburntown, Limerick, and Frenchtown.

South of the portage, the expansion of the copper industry is evident in the planned layouts of Painesdale, Trimountain, and South Range. Beyond the industrial corridor, the landscape transitions into rural communities and educational outposts like Metti Niemilo School and Canal School. The importance of water transport is underscored by the prominence of Portage Lake and Lake Superior, which provided the vital shipping lanes necessary for the region's mineral wealth to reach global markets.