1898 Map of Albany

About this map

The Hudson River corridor and its western uplands are surveyed here during the late nineteenth century, revealing a landscape defined by water power and burgeoning rail lines. The city of Albany dominates the eastern edge, with its riverfront islands like Westerlo Island and Papscanee Island still largely undeveloped. To the west, the Helderberg Mountains rise toward Countryman Hill and Wolf Hill, shaping the drainage of the Normans Kill and Oniskethau Creek. Small industrial and agricultural hamlets like French Mills and Guilderland Center are connected by a dense web of steel, including the New York Central and Hudson River RR and the West Shore RR. Notable rural enclaves such as the Shakers settlement north of Albany and the local center of South Bethlehem provide a detailed look at the settlement patterns of Albany County before modern suburban expansion.