Loading map...

1948 Map of Berlin

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Berlin
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1948
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

The Rutland railroad corridor anchors the western edge of the Taconic Mountains in the late 1940s, tracing the valley floor between Petersburg and Cherryplain. This region, where New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont converge, is defined by steep ridges and deep hollows that dictated the movement of early settlers and trade. Higher elevations like Berlin Mtn and Jim Smith Hill separate the watershed of the Little Hoosic River from the Green River valley to the east.

Local life at mid-century is centered around the string of valley hamlets, including Berlin and Center Berlin, and smaller landmarks like the East Hollow Sch. Travel across the state line was concentrated through topographic breaks such as Berlin Pass and Petersburg Pass, while the Taconic Trail begins to emerge as a significant mountain thoroughfare. The map reveals a landscape of isolated homesteads tucked into recesses like Greene Hollow and Shimwell Hollow, reflecting the enduring rural character of Rensselaer County.