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1961 Map of Colrain

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Colrain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

Colrain and its surrounding mill villages define this 1961 landscape in Franklin County, where the East Branch North River and West Branch North River meet. The map reveals a dense network of early New England settlement patterns, including industrial clusters like Griswoldville, Lyonsville, and Foundry Village. For historians, the inclusion of three specific colonial-era defensive positions—Fort Morrison (Site), Fort Lucas (Site), and Fort Morris (Site)—offers a clear view of the region's 18th-century frontier history.

Upland areas like Colrain Mtn and Christian Hill overlook a valley punctuated by numerous burial grounds, such as North River Cem and Chandler Hill Cem. The southern edge of the sheet follows the Deerfield River through Shattuckville, while the eastern portion highlights the conservation lands of Leyden State Forest and the quiet crossroads of West Leyden. This document captures the transition from a river-powered manufacturing economy to a modern rural landscape.