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1889 Map of Burrillville

Name: 1889 Topographic Map of Burrillville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1889
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1889

About this map

Industrial mill villages and a complex network of reservoirs define this late-19th-century landscape in northwest Rhode Island. The Branch River and Clear River power a sequence of manufacturing hubs including Slatersville, Harrisville, and Nasonville. These settlements are linked by the regional rail infrastructure of the era, marked by depots such as Tarkiln Station and Smithfield Station. In the northeastern corner, the edge of Woonsocket appears alongside Globe Village and Bank Village, showing the dense urban expansion of the textile era.

Upland areas like Glocester and Scituate remain more rural, characterized by prominent elevations such as Chopmist Hill and Absalona Hill. The numerous water bodies, from the Pascoag Reservoir to Moswansicut Pond, illustrate how the natural hydrology was managed to support both local industry and downstream water needs. Family names are embedded in the geography at landmarks like Steere Hill and Sayles Hill, reflecting long-standing local lineages.