1950 Map of Knowlesville

About this map

The Erie Canal cuts through the northern landscape of Orleans County, running parallel to the New York Central railroad and defining the industrial and transit corridor between Medina and Knowlesville. This mid-century survey captures a rural landscape transitioning toward specialized agricultural use, evidenced by the numerous district schools and local cemeteries that dot the countryside, such as East Shelby Cem and the Christian Cem. To the south, the terrain shifts into the marshy lowland of Oak Orchard Swamp, where the Oak Orchard State Game Refuge marks a dedicated conservation area at the border of Orleans and Genesee counties. The network of local roads like Maple Ridge Road and Telegraph Road connects small communities like Millville and East Shelby, following the subtle elevations of the Ridgeway and Albion townships.