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1900 Map of Harlem

Name: 1900 Topographic Map of Harlem
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1944
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1944

About this map

Manhattan Borough and its surrounding waterways define this turn-of-the-century landscape, illustrating the intense development of the northern city and its burgeoning suburban neighbors. The map details the complex rail network of the era, including the West Shore RR and the New York New Haven and Hartford RR, which facilitated the expansion of settlements like Tenafly and Mount Vernon. The shoreline is heavily marked with distinct landings and points such as Old Ferry Point and Willets Point, reflecting a maritime-dependent economy before modern bridges dominated the crossing of the East River.

Inland, the geography reveals the planned green spaces and infrastructure projects essential for a growing metropolis, notably Pelham Bay Park and the engineering of Jerome Park Reservoir. Genealogists and local historians can trace specific older neighborhood names and smaller communities, from Schraalenburg in New Jersey to Bryn Mawr in New York, many of which have since been absorbed into larger municipal identities. The presence of landmarks like Grant's Tomb and Fort Schuyler provides historical anchors to this 19th-century survey of the Harlem quadrangle.