1900 Map of Brooklyn

About this map

Greenwood Cemetery and Prospect Park anchor the urban grid of western Brooklyn during this era of rapid consolidation, while a complex network of rail lines facilitates expansion into the surrounding boroughs. The map illustrates a landscape in transition, where established settlements like Flatbush and New Utrecht are increasingly connected by the Long Island Railroad and various electric lines. To the east and south, the tidal wetlands of Jamaica Bay remain a wild labyrinth of marshes and islands, including Barren Island, Ruffle Bar, and Jo Co's Marsh. This survey captures the coastline before modern infill projects reshaped the shoreline, documenting the many inlets and basins such as Bergen Basin and Sheepshead Bay that defined the maritime character of the area at the end of the nineteenth century.