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1900 Map of Peterboro

Name: 1900 Topographic Map of Peterboro
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1945
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1945

About this map

Contoocook River drainage patterns define this Southern New Hampshire landscape, where the textile and manufacturing history of the Monadnock region is evident in the cluster of mill villages like West Peterboro and Noone. The topography is dominated by the massive presence of Pack Monadnock Mountain and North Pack Monadnock Mountain, which host General Miller Park. These peaks create a dramatic vertical backdrop for the valley settlements and the winding course of the river systems.

Transportation networks at the close of the 19th century were anchored by several competing rail lines, including the Boston and Maine R R, the Peterboro and Hillsboro R R, and the Nashua and Keene R R. These iron arteries connected isolated hamlets like South Bennington and Cavender to the larger industrial hubs of Peterboro and Greenville. The map captures a moment when the transition from a traditional water-powered economy to a steam-and-rail integrated system was fully realized across Hillsborough County.