1903 Map of Clayton

About this map

The St. Lawrence River defines this northern borderland, serving as a busy maritime corridor for the Navigation Company and various Steamboat Lines at the turn of the century. The map illustrates a landscape tied heavily to the water and the rail, with the New York Central & Hudson River R.R. stretching toward the waterfront hub of Clayton. To the south, the deep indentations of Chaumont Bay and Guffin Bay carve into the shoreline, creating a complex geography of points and islands including Pt. Salubrious and Cherry I.. Inland, the rural character of Jefferson County is anchored by small settlements like Depauville along the Chaumont River and the crossroads at Clayton Center. Near the southern edge, the Black River Traction Co. Electric R.R. connects Limerick and Dexter, reflecting the early 20th-century expansion of regional transit systems.