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1957 Map of Northland

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Northland
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

Northland and the rail siding at Reade anchor this survey of the dense Michigan timberlands along the border of Marquette and Dickinson counties. This mid-century landscape is defined by its vast river systems, including the complex drainage of the West Branch Escanaba and Ford River, which flow through expansive tracts of the Michigamme and Escanaba River State Forests. The C and NW RY line cuts a diagonal path through the terrain, connecting small clearings like the Education Camp and providing the primary infrastructure for the region's logging and transport economy.

From the height of the Alfred Lookout Tower, the geography reveals a mosaic of wetland and forest, punctuated by named water bodies like Lake Thirtyone and Landon Lake. Settlement is sparse, with activity concentrated near the railroad and the northern reaches of the Sturgeon River State Forest. The presence of the And J Line trail and numerous creeks like Tom Doe and Bear Creek suggest a backcountry environment where nature and industry intersect.