1894 Map of Franklin

About this map

Franklin Furnace and the surrounding mineral-rich ridges of Sussex County dominate this 1894 survey, reflecting a landscape defined by 19th-century industrial extraction. The topography is anchored by Mine Hill and Stirling Hill, areas central to the region's historical zinc and iron operations. A dense network of rail lines, including the Sussex Railroad and the New York Susquehanna and Western Railroad, converges near Branchville Junction and Sparta Junction, illustrating how the movement of ore shaped local settlement patterns. Small communities and mill sites like Sussex Mills and Rudeville are interspersed among the glacial terrain, while the Walkill River and Paulins Kill provide the primary drainage through the valleys. The map documents an era when high-elevation resources like the Ogden Mine were still actively integrated into the regional economy through specialized rail spurs.