1959 Map of Vermilion West

About this map

The southern shoreline of Lake Erie defines the character of this late-1950s coastal landscape, where a dense network of lakeside communities and beach resorts stretches between Berlin and Vermilion. The map documents a transition from the industrial and transport corridors of the New York Central and St Louis Railroad and the Chicago and St Louis Railroad to the seasonal leisure areas of Ruggles Beach, Mitiwanga, and Beulah Beach. Inland, the terrain is segmented by family-named routes such as Joppa Road and Coen Road, which serve agricultural lands drained by several north-flowing waterways, including Cranberry Creek and Sugar Creek. The placement of infrastructure like the Sewage Disposal plant near the mouth of the river indicates the early modern development of the Vermilion township area.