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1894 Map of Burrillville

Name: 1894 Topographic Map of Burrillville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1916
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1916

About this map

Woonsocket anchor the northeastern corner of this Northwest Rhode Island landscape, where the Providence and Springfield RR snakes through industrial villages along the Branch River. The interior is defined by a dense network of mill towns and textile centers like Harrisville, Pascoag, and Georgiaville, each situated near the water power of the Clear River and numerous catchments. This topography reflects the late 19th-century industrialization of the Blackstone Valley hinterlands, characterized by a series of reservoirs such as Wilson Reservoir and Barden Reservoir that managed flow for downriver production.

Prominent heights like Woonsocket Hill and Absalona Hill rise above the valleys, while more isolated settlements like Chepachet and Harmony sit at key crossroads. Smaller named places like Gazzaville and Saxonville indicate the localized manufacturing pockets of the era, while the sprawling Moswansicut Pond and Ponaganset Reservoir dominate the southern portion of the survey, illustrating the vital importance of water management to the regional economy.