1944 Map of Lawrence

About this map

The Merrimack River serves as the industrial and geographic anchor for this mid-1940s survey of one of New England’s premier textile hubs. In Lawrence, the dense grid of streets radiates from the Court House and County Jail, crossing the water into South Lawrence and extending toward the planned community of Shawsheen Village. The map captures the region’s institutional depth, showing the sprawling grounds of Phillips Academy and St Annes Orphanage, alongside the Lawrence Municipal Airport and the Radio Sta WLAW site. Beyond the urban core, the landscape transitions into the residential and academic corridors of Andover and the mill-driven character of Ballardvale. To the north, Methuen is defined by its distinct hills, such as Tower Hill and Daddy Frye Hill, while the Boston and Maine RR network facilitates the heavy transit requirements of the Merrimack Valley’s manufacturing era.