Loading map...

1939 Map of Easthampton

Name: 1939 Topographic Map of Easthampton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1939
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1939

About this map

The Manhan River and Mill River carve through this landscape during the late 1930s, anchoring the industrial and institutional centers of Easthampton and Northampton. The map illustrates a complex network of social infrastructure, from the sprawling grounds of Smith College and the State Hospital to specialized facilities like the County Sanatorium and the U S Veterans Hospital. Dense settlement patterns in Florence and Bay State contrast with the rural reaches of West Farms and the rugged elevations of the Mineral Hills to the west.

Transportation is defined by the heavy presence of the Boston and Maine RR and the NY NH and H RR, which serve the mill ponds and factories of the valley. To the east, the Connecticut River forms a wide arc around the Oxbow and Pynchon Meadows, highlighting the fertile lowlands that supported local agriculture before widespread suburban development. Cultural landmarks, including the Mt Tom State Reservation and numerous parish grounds such as St Stanislaus Cem, provide deep context for the region's mid-century community life.