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1978 Map of Portland North

Name: 1978 Topographic Map of Portland North
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

The Grand River and Maple River converge in this mid-1970s landscape, shaping the industrial and social development of eastern Ionia County. The villages of Muir and Lyons sit at this river junction, where several gravel pits and the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad grade indicate a local economy tied to both resource extraction and transportation. To the south, the city of Portland is centered near the Portland Municipal Dam, which along with Webber Dam and Wagar Dam, demonstrates the extensive hydroelectric and water management infrastructure of the era.

Rural life in Orange and Portland townships is documented through family-named landmarks and historical sites such as Keefer Cem and the settlement of Collins. While much of the land remains agricultural, features like the Portland Country Club and a Scenic Overlook near the river bend reflect the area's transition into recreational and residential space. The map also captures specialized land uses of the period, from the Industrial Waste Ponds south of Portland to the Grand Trunk Western rail line serving the northern settlements.