1953 Map of Hillsdale

About this map

Hillsdale and the surrounding Columbia County landscape are defined by the winding course of the Roeliff Jansen Kill and the path of the New York Central railroad in the mid-1950s. This survey illustrates a rural New York economy transitioning from a rail-dependent agricultural network to a mid-century residential and recreational era. The eastern edge of the map shows the beginnings of Taconic State Park, while local landmarks like the Roeliff Jansen Sch and Drum Church anchor the social geography of the time. The terrain is marked by distinctive elevations such as Lyon Mountain and Pumpkin Hill, which separate the smaller hamlets of North Hillsdale and Craryville. Detailed water features including Copake Lake with its Mosquito Island and several smaller ponds like Goose Pond provide a clear view of the area's hydrology before later development altered these rural corridors.