2017 Map of Hoytville

About this map

The rural agricultural landscape of Eaton County is defined by its deep-rooted cemetery sites and small hamlets. Hoytville and Shaytown serve as focal points in a territory carved by the Thornapple River and its various tributaries, including Sebewa Cr and Thompson Cr. The land is predominantly partitioned by a systematic grid of historic roads like W Saginaw Hwy and St Joe Hwy, reflecting the state's established survey patterns. Notable for genealogists are the numerous burial grounds scattered across the townships, such as Sunfield Cem, Welch Cem, and Ames Cem, which often represent the earliest centers of these farming communities. The map also captures the specialized drainage networks like the Winchell and Union Drain and Cole-Wright Helms Drain, essential for managing the low-lying prairie and marshlands characteristic of central Michigan.