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1918 Map of Leonidas

Name: 1918 Topographic Map of Leonidas
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1918
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1918

About this map

Mendon and Leonidas anchor this 1918 topographic study of the rural landscape where Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Calhoun counties meet. The region is defined by the winding course of the St Joseph River and a dense network of country schools, such as Bedlam School, Beebe School, and Schaffner School, which suggest a well-populated agricultural district at the close of the First World War. Local commerce and transit are visible through the Grand Rapids and Indiana railroad corridor and smaller depots like Indian Lake Sta.

Tracing the waterways like Nottawa Creek and Portage Creek reveals a terrain dotted with named lakes and small settlements like Scotts and Fulton. Historical markers of the era include the Dutton Cemetery and Beard Church, providing specific points of interest for genealogists. The map also identifies local industrial and social hubs such as Kings Mill and Adams Park, reflecting the daily life of Southwest Michigan's small-town networks during the early twentieth century.