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1888 Map of Atlanta

Name: 1888 Topographic Map of Atlanta
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

Chattahoochee River crossings and a dense lattice of early railroads define the Georgia landscape in the late nineteenth century. The urban core of Atlanta is surrounded by a periphery of smaller settlements and junctions such as Decatur, East End, and Dunwoody. This era highlights a transition toward industrialization, visible through landmarks like the Exposition grounds and multiple milling operations including Oakley Mill and Wilson Mill.

Beyond the city grid, several historic ferries such as Jett Ferry and Power Ferry provide vital links across the river before modern bridging. Notable geographic features like Stone Mountain and McPherson Mountain dominate the eastern horizon, while institutional sites like Fort McPherson and the Soldiers Home anchor the southern and eastern districts. This topographic study also records numerous small family-named communities and stops along the Southern Railroad and Georgia Railroad during a period of rapid regional expansion.