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1971 Map of Niles West

Name: 1971 Topographic Map of Niles West
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

The St Joseph River snakes through this landscape, defining the industrial and civic layout of Buchanan and Niles as they appeared in the 1970s. The map illustrates a heavy rail presence with the Penn Central and the Chicago South Bend and Northern Indiana (Electric) lines traversing the region. Significant cultural landmarks include the Portage Prairie Ch and the historic Treaty Boundary that cuts across the northern section.

South of the urban centers, the vast Portage Prairie opens up, scattered with small rural nodes like Bertrand and Dutch Corners. Educational history is preserved through labels for the Bell School and New Bell Sch, while the riverbanks are dotted with recreational sites like the Riverside Church Camp and the site of Fort St Joseph Park. This survey captures the transition from Michigan's heavy industry to the quieter agricultural fields of the Indiana state line.