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1960 Map of Iron River

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Iron River
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

Ontonagon and the Copper Country of the Upper Peninsula appear during a period of industrial transition, where the White Pine Mine stands as a primary center of activity. The map illustrates a landscape defined by its timber and mineral resources, characterized by the sprawling Ottawa National Forest and the Porcupine Mountains State Park along the shores of Lake Superior. A complex network of railroads, including the Milwaukee Road, Soo Line, and the Duluth South Shore and Atlantic, connects remote settlements like Bruce Crossing and Trout Creek to the industrial ports of Keweenaw Bay.

South of the copper-rich highlands, the terrain levels into the Baraga Plains and the Yellow Dog Plains, revealing a region defined by its hydrography. The various branches of the Ontonagon River and the Michigamme River dominate the interior, supporting a local economy built on forestry and water power. Small railway stops and stations such as Mass Station and Nestoria provide crucial evidence for genealogists and researchers tracing the settlement patterns of this northern frontier.