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1950 Map of North Adams

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of North Adams
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1950
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1950

About this map

The industrial corridor of the Hoosic River valley dominates this mid-century landscape, tracing the urban development of North Adams and Adams during a period of established manufacturing. The map documents the critical infrastructure of the Boston and Maine RR, most notably the Hoosac Tunnel Central Shaft, a massive engineering feat through the Hoosac Range. This mountain terrain separates the valley floor from the highland settlements of Florida and West Summit, connected by the winding path of the Mohawk Trail.

Local history details are abundant along the smaller waterways, with rural sites like Bishop Sch near the North Branch and the Miller Cem providing markers of early Berkshire County life. The map captures the transition from dense mill-town centers to the protected wilderness of the Green Mountain National Forest, showcasing how the topography dictated the growth of neighborhoods like Houghtonville, Briggsville, and Zylonite.