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1955 Map of Ironwood

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Ironwood
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

The Montreal River carves the border between Michigan and Wisconsin in this mid-century topographic study, anchoring the twin mining and timber hubs of Ironwood and Hurley. The map details a landscape deeply influenced by industrial geology, featuring several large sunken areas and the Cary Mine situated near Germania. These depressions and workings reflect the extensive underground iron mining legacy of the Gogebic Range. Cultural life is well-documented through local institutions such as Murphy High Sch, Central Sch, and the Finnish Ch in the settlement of Erwi.

Infrastructure is dominated by the intersecting routes of the Chicago and North Western and the Sault Ste Marie and St Paul railroads, which facilitated the transport of ore. In the southern portion of the quadrangle, the expansive Gile Flowage and smaller water bodies like Lake Lavina provide a contrast to the dense grid of settlements like Jessieville and Norrie. These details offer clear evidence of how natural hydrology and heavy industry shaped the development of these border communities.