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1900 Map of Blackstone

Name: 1900 Topographic Map of Blackstone
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1914
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1914

About this map

The Blackstone River valley serves as the industrial spine of this region at the turn of the century, winding through a corridor of mill towns and rail junctions. The New York New Haven and Hartford R. R. and the Providence and Worcester R. R. follow the water’s edge, connecting established centers like Whitinsville, Uxbridge, and Millbury Junc.. This landscape is defined by the dense concentration of village settlements along the rivers, contrasted with the high, named hills of the surrounding countryside such as George Hill and Keith Hill.

Beyond the industrial riverbanks, the terrain features unique landmarks like the Purgatory Chasm in Sutton. The map documents a period when water power still dictated the layout of community life, evident in the numerous reservoirs and ponds like Whitehall Pond and Mumford River that supported local production. The intersection of Worcester, Middlesex, and Providence counties creates a complex social geography between Massachusetts and Rhode Island.