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1971 Map of Niles West

Name: 1971 Topographic Map of Niles West
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

The St Joseph River snakes through the heart of this borderland landscape, connecting the industrial centers of Buchanan and Niles. In the early 1970s, the area reflects a transition from traditional agricultural use on the Portage Prairie to suburban development in communities like Dreamwold Heights. The map records a dense network of local institutions, from the St Marys Sch and Moccasin Sch to religious landmarks such as the Portage Prairie Ch and the Redbud Trail Church Camp.

Industrial infrastructure is prominent along the river and rail corridors, featuring a Powerplant and the extensive Penn Central Railroad lines. Rural life is anchored by small settlements like Dutch Corners and long-standing sites such as Howe Cem and St Josephs Cem. The geography is further defined by the Michigan-Indiana state line, which cuts across the southern portion of the survey, separating the townships of Bertrand and Warren.