1907 Map of Howell

About this map

The county seat of Howell serves as a major rail junction at the turn of the century, where the Ann Arbor RR crosses the Pere Marquette RR. This convergence of transportation lines anchored the commercial life of Livingston County, supporting outlying settlements like Oak Grove and Parshallville. The landscape is defined by its post-glacial hydrology, featuring a dense concentration of kettle lakes such as Lake Chemung, Thompson Lake, and School Lake. To the west, the State Sanitarium occupies a prominent position near the headwaters of the Cedar River. The map meticulously records the rural infrastructure of the era, from the Parker Church to numerous local education centers like Marr School and Genoa School, providing a clear view of the social geography before the modern highway era reshaped these lakefront communities.