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1891 Map of Philadelphia

Name: 1891 Topographic Map of Philadelphia
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1891
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1891

About this map

Philadelphia and its surrounding riverfront townships are shown in remarkable detail during a period of rapid industrial and rail expansion in the late 19th century. The intricate urban grid of the city gives way to a complex network of transportation and defense along the Delaware River, where Windmill Island and Petty's Island still occupy the channel. Significant institutional footprints like Girard College and the Alms House stand out against the burgeoning residential neighborhoods.

Southward, the U.S. Navy Yard at League Island and Fort Mifflin on the muddy banks of the Schuylkill River highlight the area's strategic maritime importance. Across the water in New Jersey, settlements like Gloucester, Haddonfield, and Merchantville are tightly linked to the city by a spiderweb of railroads, including the Camden and Atlantic Railroad and the West Jersey Railroad, which shaped the early development of these commuter and industrial hubs.