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1898 Map of Philadelphia

Name: 1898 Topographic Map of Philadelphia
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1919
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1919

About this map

The Delaware River and Schuylkill River converge at the heart of this industrial and maritime landscape, anchoring a massive network of rail lines and shipping terminals. The sprawling U. S. Navy Yard at League Id. and the defensive grounds of Fort Mifflin underscore the region's strategic importance during the late nineteenth century. Beyond the dense street grids of South Philadelphia and Camden, the map reveals a transition into the suburban and rural reaches of New Jersey, where settlements like Gloucester and Woodbury are linked by the West Jersey And Seashore R. R. and numerous branches of the P. R. R. (Pennsylvania Railroad).

Lush green spaces like Fairmount Park provide a stark contrast to the heavy industry at Point Breeze and Girard Point. Genealogists and historians can trace the development of smaller communities such as Paschallville, Haddington, and Wenonah as they appeared before the suburban expansion of the twentieth century. The intricate hydrography of the Jersey side, including Cooper Creek and Big Timber Creek, shows the natural drainage patterns that shaped early township boundaries.