Loading map...

1894 Map of Morristown

Name: 1894 Topographic Map of Morristown
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1894
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1894

About this map

The Morris Canal and its feeder navigate the complex landscape of Northern New Jersey in this late nineteenth-century study, showcasing a region defined by its industrial waterways and expanding rail networks. The Delaware Lackawanna and Western Railroad cuts through the terrain, connecting iron-mining centers like Hibernia and manufacturing hubs like Boonton to the growing metropolitan corridor. This era captures the transition from heavy canal reliance to the dominance of steam rail, with the Boonton Branch paralleling the old towpaths.

Water management and natural drainage are prominent across the Passaic River basin, seen in the vast expanses of the Great Piece Meadows and Hatfield Swamp. From the elevations of the Stony Brook Mountains to the residential growth in Caldwell and Morristown, the map documents a mix of high-ground industry and lowland agricultural valleys. Local landmarks such as Horse Neck Bridge and Swinefield Bridge provide essential points of reference for genealogists tracing early river crossings and settlement patterns.