1893 Map of Long Beach

About this map

Beach Haven and the thin ribbons of the Philadelphia and Beach Haven RR anchor this coastal landscape during the late nineteenth century. The map illustrates a maritime environment defined by barrier islands and extensive salt marshes, where the life-saving service maintained a critical presence through stations like L.S. Station Ship Bottom and L.S. Station Long Beach. To the west, the waters of Barnegat Bay and Little Egg Harbor are dotted with numerous named sedges and islands, including Sloop Sedge and Marsh Elder Islands. This survey captures the region just as the railroad was facilitating the early growth of beach settlements like Harvey Cedars. The intricate network of waterways, such as Gunning River and Mill Creek, highlights the complex interface between the mainland and the shifting sands of the Jersey Shore before modern coastal development transformed the coastline.