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1955 Map of Lawrence

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Lawrence
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

Industrial Lawrence sits at the heart of this mid-century survey, where the Merrimack River powers the urban core and the Boston and Maine Railroad provides the vital transportation infrastructure. To the south, Andover presents a distinct academic character, featuring the expansive grounds of Phillips Academy, Abbott Academy, and Merrimack College. The landscape is dotted with numerous parochial institutions and burial grounds, such as St Marys Cemetery and St Francis Seminary, reflecting the area's deep-rooted community history.

Water management and local geography are prominent, with the Spicket River and Shawsheen River feeding into the Merrimack. Notable residential and outlying districts like Shawsheen Village, South Lawrence, and Ballardvale illustrate the suburban expansion of the 1950s. High points such as Tower Hill and Meetinghouse Hill offer topographic context to the densely built environment of the Merrimack Valley.