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1899 Map of Hempstead

Name: 1899 Topographic Map of Hempstead
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1899
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1899

About this map

Hempstead and its surrounding villages occupy a transitional landscape of late-nineteenth-century development, where established townships meet the intricate salt marshes of the South Shore. The map reveals a dense network of early rail infrastructure, including the Long Island R. R. (Montauk Div.) and the Hempstead Branch, which facilitated the growth of suburban enclaves like Garden City and Mineola. These transportation lines contrast with the largely unsettled barrier beaches and tidal inlets to the south.

Water management and coastal life are prominent features, from the large Hempstead Reservoir and Millburn Reservoir to the numerous ponds like Smart Pond and Seaman Pond. Along the Atlantic, the Ft. Lookout L. S. Sta. and Short Beach L. S. Sta. serve as reminders of the maritime hazards of the era. The southern shoreline is a complex geography of islands and leads, such as Barnum Id. and Haunts Creek, showing the coast as it existed before the extensive filling and modern development of the twentieth century.