1950 Map of Elmira

About this map

Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake dominate this mid-century look at the Finger Lakes region, a landscape defined by its deep glacial troughs and the industrial arteries of the Barge Canal and Erie Canal. The map captures the post-war expansion of major educational centers like Cornell University in Ithaca and Syracuse University, alongside the military presence at Sampson Air Force Base on the eastern shore of Seneca Lake. A dense web of rail lines, including the Lehigh Valley RR and Erie RR, crisscross the terrain to connect hubs like Elmira, Auburn, and Geneva. High ground features such as the Hector Backbone and Bristol Hills rise between the narrow lakes, while the southern portion of the sheet follows the winding Susquehanna River and Chemung River through the southern tier.