1906 Map of Dover

About this map

Dover and the surrounding agricultural hinterlands of central Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland are documented in this detailed turn-of-the-century topographic study. The landscape is defined by its reliance on water-and-rail transport, with numerous landings and wharves such as Wilson Point Wharf and Deakyneville Ldg. serving the commerce of the Sassafras River and the St. Jones River. The map captures a pivotal era when the Delaware R. R. and the Philadelphia Baltimore and Washington R. R. provided vital connections for towns like Middletown, Smyrna, and Clayton. Maritime navigation is highlighted by St. Augustine Light and Bombay Hook Light along the Delaware River. Notable for local historians are the small crossroads settlements and milling sites, including Bohemia Mills and Seven Hickories, which illustrate the early industrial and social network of Kent and New Castle counties before modern highway expansion.