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1903 Map of Paterson

Name: 1903 Topographic Map of Paterson
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1906
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1906

About this map

The Passaic River anchors this industrial and suburban landscape at the turn of the century, carving through the trap rock of the First Watchung Mountain and Garret Rock. The industrial infrastructure of the era is evident in the path of the Morris Canal and the Dundee Dam, which powered the mills of the region. Transportation networks are densely packed, featuring the New York Susquehanna and Western Railroad and several branches of the Erie system, illustrating how rail transformed the meadows and ridges into a series of growing commuter towns.

Water management for the expanding metropolitan area is highlighted by the Jersey City Waterworks and the Newark Waterworks, along with the Jersey City Waterworks Aqueduct. To the east, the Hackensack River winds through the salt marshes near Boiling Springs, while the Palisades rise sharply above the Hudson River. This survey captures the transition from rural townships like Washington and Harrington to the more urbanized layouts found in Paterson and Jersey City.