2011 Map of Skeels

About this map

Skeels and the surrounding Gladwin County landscape are defined by a complex network of waterways and specialized land use in this 2011 survey. The Middle Branch Cedar River and North Branch Cedar River converge in a region dotted with numerous small glacial lakes, including Pratt Lake and the unusually named Greasy Jim Lake. The presence of the Skeels Oil Field northwest of the main settlement indicates the area's industrial history, while local heritage is preserved at Skeel Cemetery and Garrity Cemetery. Smaller settlements such as Podunk, Oberlin, and Meredith anchor the rural road grid, illustrating the dispersed residential pattern common to this part of Michigan. The terrain transition is visible through the drainage patterns of Smith Creek and Bendel Drain, which support the larger river systems flowing toward Wiggins Lake.