1976 Map of Montague SE

About this map

North Muskegon and the surrounding coastal landscape are captured in high detail through this orthophotographic survey. The imagery reveals the mid-1970s development patterns between the prominent shoreline of Lake Michigan and the protected waters of Muskegon Lake and Bear Lake. Unlike traditional topographic maps, this aerial view provides a direct look at the parceling of land, woodlots, and the emerging residential footprints in areas like Lakewood and Dalton. The contrast between the dense vegetation of the dunes and the geometric grids of local farms and neighborhoods illustrates the region's transition into a more suburban character during this era. Researchers can observe the exact road alignments and land-use divisions that defined this part of the Michigan coast just before the close of the 1970s.