1975 Map of Belchertown

About this map

Belchertown and its surrounding crossroads communities are captured in this mid-1970s orthophotoquad, which uses rectified aerial imagery to show the landscape of Hampshire County in detail. The settlement pattern is anchored by the village center and a series of distinct corners, including Meads Corner and Knights Corner to the north, and Cooks Corner to the west. This format provides a clear view of the land use during this era, where residential clusters are interspersed with dense woodlands and agricultural clearings. The western portion of the map is dominated by the broad expanse of Lawrence Swamp, while the small community of Dwight sits along the rail line that bisects the terrain. This photographic record allows for a direct comparison of modern property boundaries and forest cover against the historic footprint of these central Massachusetts towns.