2019 Map of Merrill Lake

About this map

Merrill Lake and a dense network of kettle lakes characterize this portion of the Mecosta and Osceola county line in central Michigan. The landscape is defined by the headwaters and tributaries of the North Branch Chippewa River, which winds through the eastern half of the map. Traces of 19th-century settlement remain visible through several rural burial grounds, including Sparks Cem in the west and Brown Cem near the riverbanks. The grid-based road system, with primary arteries like Meceola Rd and 80th Ave, follows the township and range lines of the Public Land Survey System, dividing a territory rich in wetlands and small water bodies such as Rattail Lakes, McElwin Lake, and Bassen Lake. This late-2010s survey shows the continued integration of residential lanes like Timber Bend Rd and Lazy Acres Ln around the shorelines of Big Lake and Rice Lake, reflecting the area's development as a contemporary lakeside retreat.