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1955 Map of Ironwood

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Ironwood
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

The Montreal River defines the rugged border between Michigan and Wisconsin, cutting through a landscape shaped by industrial grit and civic growth. In the mid-1950s, the twin cities of Ironwood and Hurley serve as the heart of this region, their urban grids interlaced with the infrastructure of the Gogebic Range. Large mine dumps and the specific operations of the Cary Mine testify to the area's subterranean wealth, while the presence of Sleight Sch, Murphy High Sch, and Central Sch indicate established residential neighborhoods.

South of the main settlements, the Gile Flowage dominates the terrain, surrounded by smaller communities like Gile and Germania. The rail lines of the Chicago and North Western and the Minneapolis St Paul and Sault Ste Marie are central to the geography, funneling resources toward larger markets. Cultural landmarks such as the Finnish Ch near Erwin and the St Marys Cemetery reflect the diverse heritage of the miners and laborers who built these border towns.