1895 Map of Ithaca

About this map

Ithaca anchors the northeastern corner of this landscape, its urban grid tightly packed against the southern tip of Cayuga Lake. The 1893 survey reveals a region defined by steep glacial topography and a vital transportation network, including the Steamboat Route on the water and the Lehigh Valley Railroad winding through the valleys. The terrain transitions from the lake's edge to the high elevations of Key Hill and Bull Hill, where numerous small hamlets like Trumbull Corner and Applegate serve as crossroads for upland farming communities. Notable natural landmarks such as Buttermilk Falls and Enfield Falls illustrate the dramatic descent of creeks toward the lake basin. To the southwest, the village of Alpine and the shores of Cayuta Lake represent the borderlands of Schuyler and Tompkins counties, where narrow corridors like Pony Hollow Creek provided essential passages for early transit.