Loading map...

1901 Map of Oberlin

Name: 1901 Topographic Map of Oberlin
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1952
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1952

About this map

Lorain and Elyria anchor this turn-of-the-century landscape, which is defined by an intricate network of early transit and natural geological ridges. The Black River carves a winding path through the center of the sheet, while the shoreline of Lake Erie features several small resort and transit stops like Beach Park and Lake Breeze. A high concentration of industrial activity is evident in the numerous Quarry labels found around North Amherst and Grafton, signaling the region's importance in sandstone and mineral extraction during this period.

Transportation historians will find a dense web of electric interurban lines and heavy rail, including the Lake Shore Electric R. R. and the Wheeling and Lake Erie R. R., which connect inland towns like Oberlin and Avon to the lakeshore. The settlement pattern follows the prehistoric lake shorelines, clearly marked as North Ridge, Middle Ridge, and Butternut Ridge, creating a distinctive linear arrangement of farms and villages.