Loading map...

1955 Map of Mercer

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Mercer
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

The town of Mercer serves as the focal point of this mid-century survey, situated at the junction of the Chicago And Northwestern railroad and a dense network of glacial lakes. The settlement pattern reflects the area's transition into a northwoods recreation and forestry hub, with the expansive Northern Highland State Forest dominating the eastern landscape. Local civic life is anchored by the Town Hall, Mercer Cem, and the Springstead Sch to the south.

Water defines the geography here, from the large basins of Moose Lake and Lac de Beaumont to smaller features like Spider Lake and Martha Lake. The presence of the Springstead Lookout Tower and Bonies Mound highlights the varied elevation of the Iron County terrain. Away from the rail line, smaller outposts like Manitowish and Murrays Landing mark the early infrastructure of the region's river and lake-based economy.