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1952 Map of Manchester

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Manchester
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

Manchester and its surrounding villages show the dense mid-century development of the Connecticut River Valley just as post-war suburbanization began to bridge the gap between historic town centers. This 1952 revision captures the area’s transition from a landscape of scattered family-named settlements like Farnhams and Burnham to a more integrated industrial and residential hub. Educational and civic growth is evident in the numerous facilities such as Ellsworth High Sch, Nathan Hale Sch, and the Armory.

Tracing the path of the Hockanum River, the map reveals a history of water-powered industry at Hilliards Pond and Union Pond. Cultural and genealogical sites are prominent, including the Jonathan Edwards Cem and the St Bridgets Cem. The presence of the New York New Haven and Hartford railroad and the Wilbur Cross Highway highlights the shifting transportation priorities of the era as Connecticut’s highway network expanded.