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1930 Map of Three Oaks

Name: 1930 Topographic Map of Three Oaks
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1930
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1930

About this map

The shore of Lake Michigan in Berrien County is defined by its dramatic coastal topography and a string of lakeside settlements. At the time of this 1920s survey, landmarks like Great Warren Dune and Mt Randall rose above a coastline dotted with summer camps and emerging beach communities, including Bethany Beach, Birchwood, and Union Pier. Further inland, the landscape transitions into a grid of agricultural townships such as Chikaming and Galien, where the Galien River winds through the countryside.

Transport and education are central to the region's development, with the Michigan Central and Pere Marquette railroads providing vital links to larger markets. The map reveals a dense network of country schools, such as California Sch, Basswood Sch, and Center Sch, serving rural families. Cultural landmarks including the First Church and Forest Lawn Cemetery near Three Oaks provide important touchpoints for genealogists tracing the early 20th-century history of southwest Michigan.