2023 Map of Mottville

About this map

Mottville and the Saint Joseph River anchor this Michigan-Indiana borderland, where historical township cemeteries and scattered small lakes define the landscape. The river flows through the southeastern portion of the sheet, joined by the Pigeon River and Trout Creek near the state line. Settlement is concentrated in the small communities of Williamsville, Union, and Mottville, each with its own local burial grounds such as East Union Cem and the Mottville Township Cem. A legacy of local industry appears at the Marl Pit near Shavehead Lake, indicating early extraction of lime-rich mud for agriculture or cement. The map reveals a complex water system including Baldwins Lake, Bellows Lake, and several drainage projects like the Washington Township Ditch, illustrating how the region's natural hydrology was managed to support both local residents and the surrounding farmland.