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1918 Map of Union City

Name: 1918 Topographic Map of Union City
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1918
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1918

About this map

The St. Joseph River carves through the landscape of southern Michigan, anchoring the growth of Union City at the confluence with the Hog River. This 1917 survey reveals a rural economy transitioning from early mills to railroad-centric commerce, with the Michigan Central line facilitating movement through Burlington Sta and Sherwood. The terrain is defined by glacial features like Stony Hill and a dense network of country schools, including the Cobblestone School and Brick School, which served dispersed farming families.

Interpreting the landscape reveals a heavy reliance on river crossings for local transit, evidenced by named structures like Bostick Bridge and Riley Bridge. Industrial footprints are visible in the form of a Sawmill near Lee Lake, while civil life centers on rural crossroads like Stanley Corners and the Town Hall in Newton township. The map preserves the names of numerous small water bodies, such as Gourdneck Lake and Warner Lake, that dictated the placement of early settlements and agricultural boundaries.