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1893 Map of Lowell

Name: 1893 Topographic Map of Lowell
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1908
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1908

About this map

The Merrimac River carves a sweeping path through this late 19th-century industrial and agricultural landscape, serving as the central axis for the booming city of Lowell. The city's dense urban grid is flanked by outlying neighborhoods like Pawtucketville and Centralville, while the surrounding countryside is defined by a dense network of competing rail lines. The Boston Lowell and Nashua Railroad hugs the riverbanks, while the Stony Brook Railroad and the Nashua Acton and Boston Railroad strike out across the drumlin-dotted terrain of Westford and Chelmsford.

Genealogists and local historians will find significant detail in the placement of rural landmarks, such as the Poor Farm in the north and numerous family-named hills like Francis Hill and Abrams Hill. The map also captures several smaller rail stops and junctions that have since changed, including Little's Station and Brookside Station, alongside specialized sites like the Flat Rock Quarry in Dunstable.