Branch County lies along Michigan’s southern border with Indiana and is centered on Coldwater, the county’s largest highlighted community. Bronson sits to the southwest, Quincy to the east, Union City near the northern boundary, and Sherwood in the northwest. A dense network of small rivers and lakes crosses the county, while the terrain rises noticeably toward the east and southeast.
This page separates the area into a road-and-place map, a Coldwater-centered connection map, a terrain-and-water map, and an elevation map. High-resolution JPG originals of the supplied maps are available together in a ZIP download for printing, classroom materials, presentations, and detailed local reference. Looking across the maps makes it easier to connect road travel, river valleys, lake districts, and the change from lower western terrain to higher eastern hills.
The county boundary is fairly regular, but the landscape inside it is not. US-12 crosses the Coldwater–Bronson–Quincy corridor, I-69 runs north and south near Coldwater, and M-86 reaches the central part of the county from the west. South of Coldwater, several lakes and river corridors occupy lower ground, while stronger relief appears toward the eastern side.
Table of Contents
US-12, I-69, and M-86 make Coldwater the main road reference
The general county map makes Coldwater the easiest place to begin. US-12 links the Bronson side of the county with Coldwater and continues east toward Quincy, while I-69 runs north and south just east of the city. M-86 approaches from the west and joins the central road pattern, giving Coldwater clear connections in several directions.
Road and facility labels are densest around Coldwater. Branch County Sheriff’s Office is also marked in this area, providing another local reference near the central city. Farther west and northwest, the map becomes much more rural, with smaller roads, scattered settlement labels, and numerous streams crossing the landscape.
Bronson lies southwest of Coldwater along the US-12 corridor. The route provides a straightforward county reference even though many small streams and lakes fill the surrounding countryside. Continuing east through Coldwater leads toward Quincy, making the three communities useful anchors for understanding the county’s main east-west movement.
Quincy is east of Coldwater and sits within the same broad US-12 corridor. The terrain begins to rise more strongly on the eastern side, so comparing this road map with the elevation map adds useful context. Union City lies close to the northern boundary, while Sherwood is farther northwest in a landscape with fewer major roads and a denser pattern of small waterways.
This map is intended for general orientation rather than live navigation. It does not show current traffic, construction, seasonal closures, or road conditions. Drivers should use current Michigan transportation information or a live navigation service for route decisions.
Straight-line connections from Coldwater to Bronson, Quincy, Union City, and Sherwood
The connection map uses Coldwater as the hub and draws direct lines to Bronson, Union City, Quincy, and Sherwood. The distances printed on this map are straight-line distances, not driving distances. They are useful for comparing direction and spacing, but an actual road trip may be longer because roads follow the local network rather than the connecting lines.
The CITY CONNECTIONS panel lists Coldwater at 13,671 as the hub, Bronson at 2,083 and 11 miles, Union City at 1,940 and 11 miles, Quincy at 1,484 and 6 miles, and Sherwood at 388 and 13 miles. These population figures are best treated as ranking values used for the map rather than as the latest official counts. Current population estimates should be checked in the appropriate U.S. Census Bureau release.
Quincy is the closest highlighted connection at about 6 straight-line miles from Coldwater. The general map also shows a direct east-west road relationship along US-12. Bronson and Union City are each shown at about 11 miles, but they lie in very different directions and use different road approaches.
Sherwood is shown about 13 straight-line miles northwest of Coldwater, the longest of the four highlighted connections. The general map reveals why a direct-line number should not be treated as a road distance: waterways and rural roads create a much more complicated travel pattern across the northwestern county.
This simplified map does not attempt to show every settlement. Its purpose is to make the relative direction and spacing from Coldwater easy to read. The general county map is the better choice when local roads, smaller place names, and water crossings matter.
Coldwater River, Prairie River, Fawn River, and the southern lake district
The terrain-and-water map makes Coldwater River one of the clearest central features. The river continues south of Coldwater and passes through a lower landscape associated with Lake of the Woods and Coldwater Lake. South Coldwater River approaches from farther north, showing how several drainage lines converge around the central part of the county.
Sauk River is labeled east of Coldwater, while Talahassee Creek appears near the Coldwater Lake area. These waterways occupy lower channels through terrain that becomes progressively higher toward the east. Comparing them with the elevation map shows how river valleys cut through the county’s hillier eastern side.
Prairie River crosses the southwestern interior, and Fawn River runs near the southern edge. Around Bronson and the southwest, small lakes and tributaries are frequent, creating a different water setting from the Coldwater lake district farther east. No single lake dominates the county; instead, numerous small and medium-size water bodies are spread across several basins.
Coldwater Lake and Silver Lake stand out in the southern half, with Lake of the Woods farther north. Morrison Lake, Randall Lake, and North Lake form a close group north of Coldwater, while Union Lake and Matteson Lake add more water features in the north and northwest. The map makes clear how thoroughly lakes and streams are distributed across Branch County.
This water map is a geographic reference, not a flood or navigation chart. It does not provide water depth, current speed, water quality, legal access, flood zones, or boating restrictions. Fishing, paddling, flood planning, and other regulated activities should use current Michigan and federal information in addition to this county-scale view.
Lower western terrain rises toward the eastern and southeastern hills
The elevation map removes most roads and labels and uses locally scaled colors with shaded relief. Its legend reports an actual elevation range of about 255 to 342 meters and a mean of 294 meters. Dark green represents the lower parts of Branch County, lighter greens and yellows mark intermediate ground, and brown identifies the higher terrain. Because the scale is local, identical colors on another county map should not be assumed to represent the same elevation.
The lowest greens cover much of the western and northwestern side. The Sherwood area and several western stream valleys sit within this lower terrain, where shaded relief is generally gentler than in the east. Moving toward the center, elevation rises gradually, but lower river corridors continue to break up the surface.
Yellow and brown terrain becomes much more common across the eastern and southeastern county. East and southeast of Quincy, stronger relief shading reveals repeated hills and valleys. The contrast with the broad green west is one of the clearest features on the map and helps explain why local roads and drainage lines behave differently across the county.
Coldwater occupies a transitional position between those two settings. Coldwater River and the lake district south of the city remain relatively low, while higher ground develops fairly quickly to the east and southeast. The water map shows several channels following those lower routes between nearby hills.
The northeast is also higher than much of the west, although it is not uniformly as high as the strongest southeastern brown areas. Small stream valleys cut through the uplands and appear as lower green or light-green corridors. The broad pattern is a rise from west to east, interrupted by river and lake basins at several elevations.
This elevation surface is a generalized county-scale reference, not survey-grade measurement. Exact parcel elevations, engineering slopes, drainage design, construction planning, and other precision work require authoritative detailed sources such as the USGS 3D Elevation Program rather than estimates from the map colors.
Comparing Coldwater, Bronson, Quincy, and the northern communities
Coldwater is the most useful place for comparing all four views. The general map shows US-12, I-69, and M-86 around the central city, and the connection map shows the direction and straight-line distance to Bronson, Quincy, Union City, and Sherwood. The water map adds Coldwater River and the southern lake district, while the elevation map places the city between lower western terrain and higher eastern hills.
Bronson represents the southwestern side of the county. US-12 provides the main road connection to Coldwater, while Prairie River, Fawn River, and many small water bodies shape the surrounding landscape. Elevation is generally lower than on the eastern side, so the combination of road, water, and relief gives Bronson a different setting from Quincy.
Quincy is only about 6 straight-line miles from Coldwater on the connection map, making it the closest highlighted community. US-12 reinforces that east-west relationship on the general map. The elevation view changes quickly east of this corridor, where higher hills become more common and small drainage valleys remain visible between them.
Union City and Sherwood help define the northern part of the county. Their straight-line distances from Coldwater are similar enough to compare, but they occupy different directions and different road environments. Looking first at the connection map and then at the general and water maps gives a clearer sense of how the north is divided by rural roads and streams.
For practical use, the general map is best for named roads and places, the connection map for direction and straight-line distance, the water map for rivers and lakes, and the elevation map for the transition from lower western terrain to higher eastern ground. Used together, the maps provide a fuller picture without crowding every detail into one image.
Choosing a Branch County map and using the downloadable files
Use the general county map when you need Coldwater, Bronson, Quincy, Union City, Sherwood, US-12, I-69, and M-86 in one view. The connection map is cleaner when the main question is direction and straight-line spacing from Coldwater. Choose the terrain-and-water map for rivers and lakes, and the elevation map when the west-to-east change in relief is the main subject.
The WebP images on this page are optimized for browser viewing. The ZIP below contains the original high-resolution JPG versions of the general county map, community-connection map, terrain-and-water map, and elevation map. Those originals are better suited to printing, classroom handouts, presentations, and large displays where additional image detail is useful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which map is best for finding Coldwater, Bronson, and Quincy together?
Use the general county map. It shows US-12 running through the Coldwater–Bronson–Quincy corridor along with I-69 and M-86. The connection map is also useful when you only need the straight-line direction and spacing from Coldwater.
Which map shows Coldwater River and the southern lakes?
Use the terrain-and-water map. It shows Coldwater River, South Coldwater River, Sauk River, Prairie River, Fawn River, Coldwater Lake, Silver Lake, Lake of the Woods, and several northern lakes. It is a location reference and does not provide flood, depth, navigation, water-quality, or access information.
Where does Branch County appear highest on the elevation map?
The western and northwestern county is generally lower, while yellow and brown hills become more widespread toward the east and southeast. The legend reports an actual range of roughly 255 to 342 meters, but exact site elevations should be checked in authoritative elevation data.
Map File Information
The ZIP contains the high-resolution JPG originals for the Branch County general map, community-connection map, terrain-and-water map, and elevation map described on this page.
- Included Files: general county map, community-connection map, terrain-and-water map, elevation map
- File Type: JPG
Related Maps
Sources and reference links
For county government and local information, see the official Branch County website. For the underlying types of boundary, hydrography, and elevation information used in county mapping, consult U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line, USGS National Hydrography, and the USGS 3D Elevation Program. These page maps are general reference products and do not replace legal boundaries, survey data, navigation charts, or flood determinations.
Green Map creates custom-edited map images using open geographic data sources such as geoBoundaries, Natural Earth, OpenStreetMap, and government open data. These maps are edited visual materials, not raw data files, and are provided for education, documents, presentations, and graphic reference.
