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1895 Map of Ithaca

Name: 1895 Topographic Map of Ithaca
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1932
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1932

About this map

The south end of Cayuga Lake anchors this survey of the Finger Lakes region in the late nineteenth century. The settlement of Ithaca is shown in detail, including its urban street grid and its connection to the Lehigh Valley Railroad, which skirts the lake's western edge. The terrain is defined by deep glacial valleys and significant elevation shifts, most notably at Enfield Falls and along Buttermilk Creek. These natural features dictated the placement of small agricultural hamlets like Trumbull Corner, Mecklenburg, and Applegate atop the plateaus.

Researchers will find a landscape transitioning from pioneer-era isolation to a more connected regional economy. The Lehigh Valley R.R. follows the natural passage through the southern hills, passing through West Danby and Stratton. In the southwest, the distinctive drainage of Pony Hollow Creek and the headwaters of Cayuta Creek highlight the divide between the St. Lawrence and Susquehanna river basins, while Connecticut Hill remains a prominent topographic landmark in the township of Newfield.