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1898 Map of Albany

Name: 1898 Topographic Map of Albany
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1911
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1911

About this map

The Hudson River serves as the eastern anchor for this 1890s-era landscape, where the bustling capital city of Albany meets the rural townships of Guilderland and Bethlehem. The topography is defined by the sharp rise of the Helderberg Mountains to the west, featuring landmarks such as Countryman Hill and Wolf Hill. Between these heights and the river, a dense network of early industrial and agricultural nodes emerges, including the settlement of French Mills and the historic Shakers community.

Transport patterns reflect the importance of rail in this era, with the New York Central and Hudson River R.R. and the West Shore Railroad converging on the capital. The river is dotted with numerous named islands like Westerlo Island and Papsanee Island, showing the complex shoreline before modern industrial straightening. Smaller communities such as Voorheesville and Slingerland mark the transition from the river valley to the hill country.