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1895 Map of Ithaca

Name: 1895 Topographic Map of Ithaca
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1929
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1929

About this map

Ithaca sits at the head of Cayuga Lake, serving as a central hub for the Finger Lakes region's late-19th-century transport network. The map reveals a landscape defined by sharp elevation changes, where numerous streams like Buttermilk Creek and Willow Creek carve deep gorges toward the lakefront. While the city grid is well-established, the surrounding townships of Enfield, Newfield, and Danby are dotted with small agricultural settlements such as Trumbull Corner and Kennedy Corner.

Transit at this time was a mix of terrestrial and water routes, with the Lehigh Valley RR winding through the valleys to reach the industrial lakefront, complemented by a Steamboat Route departing from the northern piers. Significant heights like Connecticut Hill and Key Hill dominate the western terrain, providing a look at the rural isolation of communities like Smith Valley and Alpine before the advent of modern highway systems. Many of these family-named corners and creek-side landings reflect the localized economy of the 1890s.