2011 Map of New Buffalo East

About this map

The Lake Michigan shoreline in Berrien County is defined by a dense series of beach-front communities and vacation settlements. From New Buffalo in the southwest up through Gordon Beach, Union Pier, Lakeside, and Harbert, the map illustrates how transportation infrastructure, specifically the highway and rail corridor, parallels the coast to support these coastal enclaves. While the shoreline is heavily developed with residential grids and landings like Skippers Landing, the interior transitions into a landscape shaped by the winding Galien River and its various tributaries, such as the South Branch Galien River and Squaw Creek. This inland area maintains its rural character, anchored by sites of local heritage including Basswood Cemetery and Heckman Memorial Cemetery near the settlement of Hesston. The distribution of post offices across these small communities highlights the historical independence of each settlement before modern consolidation.