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1905 Map of Bingham

Name: 1905 Topographic Map of Bingham
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1939
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1939

About this map

Bingham serves as the primary hub in this early 20th-century survey of the Kennebec valley, situated where the Maine Central railroad tracks meet the banks of the Kennebec River. The landscape is dominated by the steep drainages of the Bald Mountain range and the Austin Stream system, which feed into the river through numerous tributaries like Pleasant Pond Stream. The map reveals a wilder Somerset County interior, punctuated by clusters of named water bodies such as the Heald Ponds, Decker Ponds, and Mink Ponds.

The surveying work by Hersey Munroe and his team captures a period when logging and rail transport defined the local economy. Notable peaks like Baker Mtn and Old Bluff Mountain tower over the river valley, providing significant elevation markers for the townships of Moscow, Caratunk, and Pleasant Ridge. Small settlements and seasonal camps appear near Austin Pond and Pleasant Pond, reflecting the historical footprint of early recreational and industrial ventures in the Maine woods.