1904 Map of Boonville

About this map

The Black River Canal serves as the industrial spine of this upper New York state landscape, winding through the valley alongside the Black River and the tracks of the N. Y. C. and H. R. R. R. through Boonville. This engineering corridor provided a vital link between the Mohawk River drainage and the northern Adirondack foothills during the early twentieth century. Further south, the map details the rural character of settlements like Westernville and North Western, where numerous hills like Potato Hill and Buck Hill create a complex topography of ridges and narrow creek valleys. Genealogists will find many small, vanished hamlets and community centers including Frenchville, Big Brook, and the South Hill Church. The confluence of water and rail in the north, contrasted with the agricultural upland to the south, reveals the distinct transport-driven economy of the era.