1982 Map of Matchwood

About this map

Ottawa National Forest dominates this section of the Upper Peninsula, where timberlands and waterways define the geography near the border of Ontonagon and Gogebic Counties. The small settlements of Matchwood and Topaz serve as the primary human hubs, both situated along the vital Soo Line railroad corridor. This rail line provided the essential connection for transporting forest products out of the region during the late 20th century. The landscape is heavily dissected by a dense network of water, including the West Branch Ontonagon River in the northwest and numerous drainage systems such as Matchwood Creek, Tenmile Creek, and Wanagon Creek. A prominent gas pipeline cuts across the center of the township, illustrating the infrastructure requirements of this remote northern landscape as it appeared in the early 1980s.