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1894 Map of Allentown

Name: 1894 Topographic Map of Allentown
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1897
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1897

About this map

The Lehigh River corridor serves as the industrial and transportation backbone of this late 19th-century landscape, connecting the growing urban centers of Allentown and Bethlehem. The presence of the Lehigh Canal alongside major rail lines like the Lehigh Valley R. R. and the Central R. R. of N. J. illustrates a transition period where water-borne transport and steam power operated in tandem to serve the local iron and slate industries.

Away from the riverbanks, the terrain rises into prominent landmarks like Hexenkopf Hill and Pine Top, while the valleys are dotted with older communal settlements such as Nazareth, Bath, and Kreidersville. The map details a dense network of smaller hamlets including Howertown, Hecktown, and Beersville, providing a look at the early settlement patterns and the intersection of Lehigh and Northampton counties during a decade of rapid expansion.