1952 Map of Sands

About this map

The Chicago and North Western corridor defines the settlement pattern of this interior Marquette County landscape in the early 1950s. Small rail-oriented communities like Sands and Gentian sit along the tracks, while Sands Station and the settlement of Cascade near Goose Lake Outlet highlight the area's historical connection to transportation and mining. The topography is dominated by the Negaunee Hills and Ragged Hills, which overlook a complex network of glacial water bodies including Pelissier Lake, Powell Lake, and Uncle Tom Lake. In the southern reaches, the East Branch Escanaba River cuts through the terrain, while the presence of scattered Gravel Pits points to the local extraction industries supporting the region's mid-century infrastructure. Numerous small creeks like Cherry Creek and Cedar Creek drain the surrounding marshes and bluffs, illustrating the hydrologic character of the Sands and Richmond townships.