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1895 Map of Elmira

Name: 1895 Topographic Map of Elmira
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1895
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1895

About this map

Elmira serves as the dominant rail and industrial hub of Chemung County in this late-nineteenth-century survey, revealing a dense grid of streets along the Chemung River. The landscape is a complex intersection of major transit corridors, including the Delaware Lackawanna and Western R. R. and the Northern Central R. R. which converge near Horseheads. These railroads trace the valleys, leaving the surrounding highlands like Mount Zoar and Beers Hill to small agricultural hamlets.

Local researchers can trace the early footprints of settlements such as Webb Mills, Sullivanville, and Pine City. The map documents the importance of river crossings and water-dependent industry, noting locations like Fitch Bridge and the marshy expanses near Big Island. The topography clearly dictates the development of the region, as the population clusters tightly in the lowland gaps carved by Newtown Creek and the river, while steep ridgelines like Ashland Hill remain sparsely settled.