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1894 Map of Durham

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

USGS Topo · Published 1894

About this map

Black Head Mountains dominate the southern portion of this 1892 survey, where high summits like Black Dome and Thomas Cole rise sharply from the surrounding valleys. The drainage of Catskill Creek and its many tributaries, such as Ten Mile Creek and Basic Creek, defines the settlement patterns across Durham and Greenville. These waterways provided the power for early local industry, evidenced by centers like Cairo Forge.

Small agricultural hamlets are scattered throughout the northern Catskill foothills, including Preston Hollow, Potter Hollow, and Oak Hill. The map meticulously records the era's road network connecting these communities, alongside family-named landmarks like Hervey Street and Smith Corner. To the west, the landscape becomes increasingly steep as it approaches Mt Pisgah and Mt Nebo, marking the transition from the rolling dairy lands of Albany and Greene Counties into the high wilderness peaks.