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1894 Map of Durham

Name: 1894 Topographic Map of Durham
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1951
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1951

About this map

Blackhead Mountains dominate the southern portion of this late 19th-century survey, forming a dramatic topographic boundary that dictates the settlement patterns of Greene County. The terrain transitions from the high peaks of Thomas Cole and Black Dome down into the narrow valleys where communities like Big Hollow and Hensonville are situated. Watercourses such as the Batavia Kill and Catskill Creek serve as the primary corridors for development, with a dense network of small hamlets—including Preston Hollow, Cooksburg, and Oak Hill—spaced at regular intervals along these drainage basins.

The map reveals a landscape defined by localized industry and agriculture just before the turn of the century, evidenced by place names like Cairo Forge. In the northern sections, towns such as Medusa and Westerlo sit amidst a more rolling plateau, while the western edge is marked by the steep rise toward Mt Pisgah and Mt Nebo. For the local historian, the level of detail in identifying minor settlements like Union Society and Hervey Street provides a clear view of the rural social geography of the era.