1945 Map of Portland

About this map

The Grand River and Lookingglass River converge at Portland, creating a landscape defined by hydraulic power and winding river bends. In the mid-1940s, this region of Ionia, Clinton, and Eaton counties was a densely populated agricultural grid, evidenced by the remarkable concentration of rural schoolhouses such as Hamlin Sch, Howell Sch, and McKim Sch. The rivers were actively managed for power, shown by the Wagar Dam and Weber Dam north of Portland. The presence of the Clinton and Ionia Canal and the Pere Marquette railway line underscores the importance of this corridor for regional transport and transit. Smaller crossroads like Sebewa Corners and Kent Corners provided local hubs between larger village centers like Lyons, Muir, and Mulliken.