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1944 Map of Iron River

Name: 1944 Topographic Map of Iron River
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

Mining operations dominate this mid-century landscape along the Iron River, where extraction sites like the Forbes Mine, James Mine, and Spies Mine define the local economy. The industrial footprint is extensive, featuring specialized worker settlements such as Virgil Location and Hiawatha Location, alongside the established municipalities of Iron River and Stambaugh. The Chicago and Northwestern railroad network weaves through these mining districts, providing the critical transport links for the region's mineral wealth.

To the south and west, the industrial activity gives way to the dense woodlands of the Ottawa National Forest and the Nicolet National Forest. Large water bodies including Stanley Lake and Camp Lake dot the terrain, while the Brule River marks the jurisdictional boundary between Iron County, Michigan and Wisconsin. This transition from the concentrated iron-working centers of Mineral Hills and Caspian to the undeveloped forest lands illustrates the sharp divide between the Upper Peninsula's industrial hubs and its timbered wilderness.