Loading map...

1892 Map of Narragansett Bay

Name: 1892 Topographic Map of Narragansett Bay
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1904
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1904

About this map

The State Prison and the nearby State Farm anchor the northwest corner of this late-nineteenth-century survey, illustrating the institutional landscape of Rhode Island before the turn of the century. As documented by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, the coastal geography of the bay is intricate, featuring the large landmass of Conanicut Island and the smaller Prudence Island centered among the tidal waters. The maritime economy is evident through several navigation markers, including the Warwick Light and Prudence I. Light.

Transport networks define the inland development, with the New York Providence and Boston R.R. running through Wickford Junction and Davisville. The map captures established maritime communities such as Wickford and East Greenwich, alongside rural settlements like Allenton and Hamilton. This record shows a complex coastline of necks and coves, from Potowomut Neck to Brush Neck Cove, at a time when local rail lines like the Warwick R.R. still linked these coastal outposts.