Loading map...

1893 Map of New Bedford

Name: 1893 Topographic Map of New Bedford
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1904
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1904

About this map

New Bedford stands as a bustling maritime and industrial hub on the shores of New Bedford Harbor during the late nineteenth century. The urban core is densely gridded, connected to the surrounding region by the Fall River and New Bedford Railroad and the New Bedford Branch of Old Colony Railroad. Across the Acushnet River lies Fairhaven and the waterfront village of Oxford, while the coastline stretches east through Mattapoisett and north toward Marion.

Navigation and coastal industry dominate the landscape, with landmarks like Clark Point Light and Neds Point Light guiding vessels into the harbors. Further inland, the terrain transitions into a patchwork of wetlands and small milling sites, such as Turners Mills and the Great Cedar Swamp. Local transport is anchored by rural outposts like Braleys Station and Acushnet Station, illustrating the vital role of the rail networks in moving goods and people between these South Coast settlements and the interior.