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1953 Map of Durham

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Durham
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

Durham and Durham Center serve as the primary hubs of this Connecticut landscape, situated at the head of the Durham Meadows where the Coginchaug River begins its northward flow. The village character is defined by its colonial-era layout and local industry, represented by Allyn Millpond and several brooks that once powered early mills. To the west, the steep ridges of Pistapaug Mountain and Totoket Mountain create a formidable natural boundary, punctuated by Reed Gap, which carries the New York New Haven and Hartford rail line through the highlands.

Outdoor recreation and conservation areas are prominent, including the Durham Hunting Area and sections of Cockaponset State Forest. For genealogists and local historians, the map preserves the location of the Rockland Cem and remote settlements like Beaver Head Corner and East Sugarloaf. The network of footpaths, including the Mattabesset Trail and Washington Trail, highlights the region's long-standing transition from an agrarian economy to one focused on forest management and recreation.