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1893 Map of Albany

Name: 1893 Topographic Map of Albany
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1893
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1893

About this map

The Hudson River serves as the bustling arterial heart of this 1890s survey, where the city of Albany anchors a massive rail-and-water network. Numerous islands like Westerlo Island and Papscanee Island divide the river channels, while the Albany Rensselaer County Line follows the river's path. Moving inland, the terrain rises into the Helderberg Mountains, featuring prominent peaks such as Countryman Hill and Wolf Hill.

This era is characterized by an incredibly dense web of competing rail lines, including the West Shore Railroad and the Albany and Susquehanna, which spurred the growth of commuter hamlets like Slingerlands and Voorheesville. Small industrial and agricultural clusters such as French Mills and Guilderland Center are shown in their late 19th-century prime. The northern reaches include the distinct community of the Shakers, offering a look at the religious and social geography of the capital region before modern suburbanization.