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1892 Map of Oconomowoc

Name: 1892 Topographic Map of Oconomowoc
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1897
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1897

About this map

Glacial kettle lakes and terminal moraines dominate this late 19th-century landscape across Waukesha County, where early resort culture and agricultural commerce were firmly established. The Chicago Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad corridor serves as the primary artery connecting shoreline communities, including Oconomowoc and Pewaukee, to regional markets. This 1890 survey illustrates the dense concentration of water bodies that defined the area's identity, from the prominent Pewaukee Lake to the smaller Genesee Lakes and Silver Lake.

High points such as Holy Hill and Government Hill rise above the complex drainage patterns of the Oconomowoc River and Bark River. Smaller settlements like Stone Bank, Monchess, and Delafield appear as established hubs, while Lakeside Station highlights the era's reliance on rail transport for both passengers and freight. The map also records early township divisions, including Merton, Summit, and Erin, providing a clear view of the land use before modern suburban expansion.