1952 Map of Sands

About this map

The Chicago and North Western railway anchors this early 1950s study of Marquette County, cutting a path through the diverse terrain of the Sands and Richmond townships. Small settlements like Sands Station, Gentian, and Cascade appear alongside the rail line, indicating a landscape where transportation and light industry, such as the Gravel Pits near Little Pelesier Lake, defined local commerce. To the north and west, the elevation rises into the Kona Hills and Range Hills, while the southern reaches are drained by the East Branch Escanaba River. The intricate network of water bodies, including Powell Lake, Strawberry Lake, and Uncle Tom Lake, suggests a geography dominated by glacial remains and wetlands. This survey provides a precise look at the transition from the high bluffs of Migisy Bluff to the creek-fed lowlands of Silver Creek and Cedar Creek before significant modern development altered the Upper Peninsula interior.