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1973 Map of Mercer

Name: 1973 Topographic Map of Mercer
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1991
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1991

About this map

Mercer sits at the heart of this Iron County landscape, positioned where the Chicago and North Western railway intersects a dense network of glacial lakes and river channels. The settlement pattern in the 1970s reflects a community deeply tied to the surrounding Northern Highland State Forest, with residential clusters gathered near Mercer Cem and Carow Park. The map reveals the intricate hydrography of the Turtle River system, which connects larger bodies like Pike Lake and Echo Lake.

Evidence of historical transport and industrial activity is visible in the Old RR Grade and several Gravel Pits scattered across the terrain. From the remote northern reaches of Long Lake to the southern settlement of Manitowish, the map documents a landscape transitioning from primary industrial extraction toward a recreational-focused forest economy, marked by numerous boat ramps and named water bodies such as Grand Portage Lake and Rice Lake.