1955 Map of Chatham

About this map

The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and its sprawling Great Swamp wetlands dominate the northwestern portion of this mid-century survey, creating a sharp contrast with the intensifying suburban growth of the Passaic River valley. To the south and east, the landscape transitions into the residential and industrial corridors of Chatham, New Providence, and Berkeley Heights, where the Conrail railroad lines fueled mid-century expansion. The map captures an era of dense institutional development, particularly evident in the concentration of parochial sites like St Josephs Shrine, St Marys Academy, and Our Lady of Peace Sch. Significant topographical features like Long Hill, Stony Hill, and the Watchung Mountains define the local terrain, while the Watchung Reservation preserves a large tract of open space amid the expanding boroughs of Scotch Plains and Plainfield.