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1897 Map of Medina

Name: 1897 Topographic Map of Medina
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1897
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1897

About this map

The Tonawanda Indian Reservation occupies a significant portion of this late-19th-century landscape, centered around the winding Tonawanda Creek and the settlement of Indian Falls. This area reflects a complex intersection of transportation and natural geography, where the Erie Canal cuts across the northern townships, fueling the growth of hubs like Medina and Middleport. South of the canal, the massive Oak Orchard Swamp dominates the center of the sheet, a vast wetland system through which Oak Orchard Creek flows toward the north.

Railroad development is prominent during this era, with the Niagara Falls Line paralleling the canal and the New York Central and Hudson River's Batavia and Tonawanda Branch providing essential connections for rural villages. Genealogists will find a wealth of small hamlets and stations such as Shelby Basin, Smithville Sta., and Wheatville, many of which were vital agricultural points before the consolidation of rural infrastructure.