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1940 Map of Metz

Name: 1940 Topographic Map of Metz
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1940
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1940

About this map

Metz and Alvarado anchor this rural landscape along the Indiana-Ohio border in the late 1930s, where small farming communities are defined by their local institutions and bridge crossings. The area is heavily intersected by an intricate drainage system, featuring Creel Ditch, Edna Ditch, and Baker Ditch, which supported the agricultural development of York, Richland, and Franklin townships.

Genealogical interest is found in the scattered rural churches and schools that served these far-flung farmsteads, including Mt Pleasant Ch and the Tamarack Sch. The drainage of the land is further evidenced by several named crossings like Shaffer Bridge and Gaskill Bridge, indicating a landscape where local travel was dictated by the management of the watershed. Notable water features like Burdick Lake and Fish Creek remain prominent landmarks in this corner of Steuben County.