Loading map...

1885 Map of Abington

Name: 1885 Topographic Map of Abington
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1885
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1885

About this map

Coastal inlets and established inland villages define this 1885 landscape, capturing the South Shore's transition from maritime centers to expanding industrial rail hubs. The Old Colony Railroad anchors the region's transport, connecting hubs like Weymouth Landing and Old Colony House Station to the rocky shores of Cohasset Harbor and Scituate Harbor. Inland, the terrain is shaped by an intricate network of water bodies, including Whitman Pond, Accord Pond, and the massive Great Pond near South Weymouth.

Settlement patterns reveal a mix of traditional town centers like Hingham and specialized corners such as Queen Ann Corners and Lovell Corners. The elevation is marked by numerous family-named peaks like Otis Hill and Hoop Pole Hill, providing a clear view of the drainage patterns for the Weir River and Bound Brook. This survey provides a meticulous record of the ponds and swamps, such as Black Pond Swamp and Valley Swamp, that dictated the placement of roads and homesteads across Rockland and Norwell before the suburban sprawl of the twentieth century.