1943 Map of Ellisburg

About this map

Lake Ontario defines the western edge of this coastal Jefferson County landscape, where a complex network of barrier ponds and marshes stretches from Lakeview Pond down to South Pond. The internal drainage system is characterized by meandering waterways like South Sandy Creek and Little Sandy Creek, which feed into the larger coastal basins of North Pond and Sandy Pond. This 1940s survey reveals a rural economy organized around small school districts and country crossroads, with several rural schoolhouses such as School No 11 and School No 13 serving the scattered population. The village of Ellisburg stands as the primary inland settlement, situated at the confluence of several branches of Sandy Creek. Notable local infrastructure includes the Observation Tower overlooking the lake and the historic route of Military Road, which cuts south through the township toward the Jefferson Co Oswego Co line. The map provides a detailed look at the transition from the sandy shoreline to the rising elevation of Colwell Hill.