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1904 Map of Litchfield

Name: 1904 Topographic Map of Litchfield
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1923
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1923

About this map

The Housatonic River carves a path through this section of the Litchfield Hills, defining the industrial and transit corridor for the N.Y. N.H. & H. R.R. at the turn of the century. This 1904 survey reveals a landscape balanced between concentrated manufacturing hubs and high-elevation farming communities. The iron heritage of the region is evident at Ore Hill and Red Rocks, while the numerous river crossings like Cornwall Bridge and Swift's Bridge underscore the connectivity required by the era's commerce.

Water power and natural reservoirs are prominent features, from the expansive Bantam Lake to smaller industrial catchments like Burr Reservoir. Beyond the valley floors, the map illustrates the settlement patterns of upland villages such as Winchester Center and Sharon Valley, as well as prominent summits like Mohawk Mt. and Canaan Mt. that overlook the surrounding terrain of the Berkshire foothills.