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1954 Map of Dunkirk

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Dunkirk
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

Lake Erie defines the northern industrial and maritime character of Dunkirk, where a dense network of railroads including the New York Central RR and Erie RR converge at Union Station. This mid-century landscape is caught in a moment of transition, shown by the New York State Thruway marked as under construction. To the south, the village of Fredonia is centered around the State University Teachers College and the winding Canadaway Creek.

Tracing the waterways inland reveals a more fractured topography toward the south, where Arkwright Falls and Shumla Falls mark the elevation changes near Shumla. The map is particularly rich for genealogical research, documenting numerous denominational and family burial grounds such as Holy Cross Seminary Cem, St Hedwigs Cem, and the Newell Cem. Rural life is anchored by numbered schoolhouses like School No 16 and small settlements at Reed Corners and Cook Corners.