1905 Map of Detroit

About this map

The city of Windsor and Walkerville look across the Detroit River to a rapidly expanding urban core at the turn of the century. This survey documents the transition of outlying townships like Greenfield and Springwells into industrial and residential hubs, long before the consolidation of the modern metro area. A complex web of rail lines, including the Grand Trunk (Detroit and Pontiac Line) and the Detroit Orchard Lake Electric, radiates from the riverfront, illustrating the city's early reliance on heavy rail and electric traction. To the north, Palmer Park and Mt Olivet Cemetery sit at the city's then-fringe, while named locales like Oakwood and Navarre PO mark the settlements along the Rouge River south of Dearborn. The map captures the distinct street grids of Highland Park and Hamtramck as they began to be surrounded by the growing city.