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1889 Map of Charlestown

Name: 1889 Topographic Map of Charlestown
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1893
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1893

About this map

The coastal landscapes of Charlestown and South Kingstown appear here at the close of the 19th century, defined by a series of significant coastal lagoons and inland wetlands. A complex network of salt ponds, including Ninigret Pond, Quonochontaug Pond, and Green Hill Pond, separates the mainland from the Atlantic Ocean, with Quonochontaug Beach and Charlestown Beach forming the thin barrier. Inland, the terrain is dotted with substantial freshwater bodies like Worden's Pond and the extensive Indian Cedar Swamp.

The industrial and transportation framework of the era is evident through several rail lines, most notably the New York Providence and Boston Railroad passing through Wood River Junction and Kenyon. Smaller local lines like the Wood River Branch Railroad and the Narragansett Pier Railroad serve the mill villages of Shannock and Carolina. Cultural landmarks such as the Indian Burying Hill and the School House Pond provide a look into the social geography of the region before 20th-century coastal development.