1900 Map of Cherry Creek

About this map

The hills of Chautauqua Co. and Cattaraugus Co. are deeply incised by the headwaters of the West Branch and North Branch creeks at the turn of the century. The Erie R. R. (Buffalo and Southwestern Div.) follows the low-lying eastern terrain, connecting the larger hubs of South Dayton and Cherry Creek. This landscape is defined by its transition from the rolling uplands of Arkwright and Villenova to the broader valleys of Leon and Conewango. Small rural hamlets like Hamlet and Villenova anchor the interior highlands, while the northern edge is marked by the presence of Forestville and the Smiths Mills Sta. rail stop. A notable Drainage Ditch in the southeast suggests early efforts to manage the marshy lowlands, providing a clear picture of the land's development for agriculture and transport before mid-century changes.