1894 Map of Allentown

About this map

The Lehigh River and the parallel Lehigh Canal serve as the industrial spine of this 1890s landscape, illustrating the critical transportation network that powered the Lehigh Valley. The map documents the dense urban centers of Bethlehem and Allentown before the massive expansion of the 20th century, showing a region where manufacturing and rail traffic concentrated along the riverbanks. Beyond the river hubs, a network of smaller villages like Kreidersville, Seemsville, and Hecktown are connected by a web of rural roads, many centered around local landmarks such as Stone Church. Significant elevation changes are marked by prominent features like Hexenkopf Hill and Iron Hill, while numerous railroad lines, including the Central RR of New Jersey and the Bangor and Portland RR, underscore the area's importance as a nineteenth-century rail corridor.