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1908 Map of Rochester

Name: 1908 Topographic Map of Rochester
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1936
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1936

About this map

Birmingham and Rochester emerge as key hubs in this early twentieth-century landscape, connected by an intricate network of transportation including the Detroit United Electric RR and Woodward Ave. The map captures the agricultural and industrial character of Oakland Co and Macomb Co, where small settlements like Big Beaver and Goodison are surrounded by a dense grid of rural schools such as Snell School, Fox School, and Stone School.

Water management is prominent across the terrain, evidenced by the Sprague Ditch and Gibson Ditch alongside natural waterways like the Clinton River and Rouge River. To the north, Bald Mtn provides a rare topographical break in a region otherwise defined by town squares and crossroads landmarks like the Stone Shop. This survey documents the transition of southeastern Michigan from a patchwork of farmsteads to a more interconnected suburban corridor.