Loading map...

1946 Map of Iron River

Name: 1946 Topographic Map of Iron River
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1946
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1946

About this map

Iron ore mining operations define the landscape of the upper Menominee Range just after World War II, where deep-shaft mines and company-built residential clusters sit alongside established municipalities. The industrial corridor follows the Chicago and Northwestern railroad and the Iron River, connecting the town of Iron River with Stambaugh and Caspian. A distinct pattern of "locations"—company-owned worker housing areas—is evident in settlements like Forbes Location, Homer Location, Hiawatha Location, and Virgil Location, each situated adjacent to their namesake operations like the Forbes Mine or the Homer Mine.

Beyond the industrial core of Mineral Hills, the western portion of the map transitions into the Ottawa National Forest. This area is characterized by glacially formed water bodies such as Stanley Lake and Bennan Lake, which stand in contrast to the heavily engineered landscape of the mining district. Traces of local governance are preserved in the location of the Township Hall, while the presence of a Golf Course and several cemeteries provide a complete view of the mid-century social and infrastructure fabric in this Michigan-Wisconsin border region.