Loading map...

1895 Map of Ithaca

Name: 1895 Topographic Map of Ithaca
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1946
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1946

About this map

Ithaca and the southern reach of Cayuga Lake serve as the focal points for this late 19th-century survey of the Finger Lakes region. The map reveals a landscape defined by the deep glacial troughs and high divides of the Allegheny Plateau, with steep-sided valleys hosting Buttermilk Falls and the dramatic topography of Connecticut Hill. The era's transportation network is prominently displayed, featuring the Lehigh Valley Railroad winding along the lake shore and a designated Steamboat Route connecting the port at Ithaca to northern points.

Agricultural and small-scale industrial settlements like Newfield, Mecklenburg, and Enfield are shown in their late-century configuration, often situated near vital water sources like Butternut Creek or Taughannock Creek. The southern portion of the map highlights the rugged terrain near Pony Hollow and the Elmira Cortland and Auburn RR corridor, providing researchers with a clear view of the complex county and township boundaries between Tompkins, Schuyler, Chemung, and Tioga counties.