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2023 Map of Niles West

Name: 2023 Topographic Map of Niles West
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2023
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2023

About this map

The Saint Joseph River carves a winding path through this Michigan-Indiana borderland, defining the geography of Buchanan and the western reaches of Niles. The landscape is a mix of river islands like Debs Island and the fertile expanse of Portage Prairie. Historically significant sites are concentrated near the riverbanks and the state line, including the Father Allouez Grave Site and the Beeson Mausoleum.

Genealogists will find a high density of burial grounds throughout the townships, from the Sherwood Cem in the north to the Bertrand Protestant Cem in the village of Bertrand. The transition from Michigan's Berrien County into Indiana's St. Joseph County is clearly marked at the southern edge, where the suburban fringes of South Bend begin to appear. The intricate network of creeks, such as McCoy Creek and Brandywine Creek, illustrates the drainage patterns that supported early milling and settlement in the region.