1969 Map of Ithaca East

About this map

Cornell University anchors the central landscape of this Tompkins County study, showcasing the academic and residential expansion that reshaped the hills east of Ithaca during the mid-20th century. The map illustrates a period of significant growth as suburban developments in Cayuga Heights and Lansing contrast with the steep, wooded ravines of Cascadilla Creek and Sixmile Creek. To the east, the rural character remains evident in the scattered settlements of Varna, Etna, and Besemer, where small local cemeteries like Roe Cem and Quick Cem preserve a record of earlier homesteads. The infrastructure of the era is represented by the Lehigh Valley RR corridor and the Tompkins County Airport, providing a clear view of the transportation network connecting these Finger Lakes communities before later modernizations altered the historic road patterns like Coddington Road and Ellis Hollow Road.