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1894 Map of Laurel

Name: 1894 Topographic Map of Laurel
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1894
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1894

About this map

Iron Ore deposits scattered near Muirkirk and Contee reveal the early industrial character of this corridor between Baltimore and Washington during the late nineteenth century. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad serves as the primary artery for the region, connecting established hubs like Laurel and Savage Sta. with smaller crossroads and rail stops. The landscape is defined by the winding course of the Patuxent River and its tributaries, which established the boundaries for Howard, Montgomery, Anne Arundel, and Prince George counties.

Local travel in the 1890s relied on a network of rural roads and river crossings such as Snell Bridge and Brown Bridge. The map details numerous small communities that served as local social and economic centers, including Simpsonville, Highland, and Clarksville. These settlements, often situated at high points or mill sites like Oakland Mills, show the transition from a purely agrarian economy to one supported by the rail-and-river network.