1898 Map of Chester

About this map

The industrial and riparian corridor of the Delaware River anchors this 1894 survey, documenting the transition from maritime trade to suburban expansion across Chester County and Delaware County. The city of Chester sits at the center of a dense network of iron and wood, where the Baltimore and Ohio R. R. and Reading R. R. converge near the waterfront. Beyond the urban core, the landscape is defined by the milling economy along Crum Creek, Ridley Creek, and Chester Creek, featuring sites like Lenni Mills, Llewellyn Mills, and Ivy Mills. Significant social institutions of the Victorian era are prominently marked, including the Williamson School and the House of Refuge. To the south, the map details the river's navigational hazards and islands, such as Little Tinicum Id. and Raccoon Id., alongside established riverfront settlements like Marcus Hook and Trainer.