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1958 Map of Nappanee East

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of Nappanee East
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

The northern reaches of Kosciusko County and southern Elkhart County are defined by a meticulous grid of rural roads and drainage ditches in this 1958 topographic study. The city of Nappanee anchors the western edge, where the Baltimore and Ohio railroad line cuts a straight path eastward toward the small settlement of Gravelton. This landscape is primarily agricultural, evidenced by the dense network of named agricultural drainage systems such as the Omar-Neff ditch and the Fisher-Gordon ditch, which were essential for reclaiming the wet prairie land for farming.

Local genealogy and social history are preserved through the numerous country churches and cemeteries that dot the township lines, including Wisler Ch, Salem Ch, and Union Center Ch. To the south, the village of Hastings sits near Island Chapel and the Island Cem, markers of early community hubs. The map also records early infrastructure such as the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, reflecting the region's transportation development before modern interstate expansion.