1897 Map of Medina

About this map

Erie Canal commerce and the industrial growth of Orleans and Genesee counties dominate this late nineteenth-century survey. The waterway serves as a central artery for several established villages, including Medina and Middleport, while the Niagara Falls Line and the New York Central and Hudson River railroads parallel its path, reflecting the era's transition from water to rail transport. The northern portion of the map is defined by the prehistoric shoreline of Ridge Road, while the southern reaches are marked by the extensive Oak Orchard Swamp and the Tonawanda Indian Reservation. Small agrarian settlements and station stops such as Shelby Basin, Knowlesville, and Oakfield are documented in detail, providing a clear record of the region's rural character before modern expansion. This survey preserves the placement of many family-named crossroads and hamlets like Wheatville, Basom, and Millville at the turn of the century.