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1947 Map of Pittsfield East

Name: 1947 Topographic Map of Pittsfield East
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1947
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1947

About this map

The Pittsfield urban center and the industrial corridor of the Housatonic River dominate this post-war Berkshire County landscape. In 1947, the convergence of the Boston and Albany RR and the New York New Haven and Hartford RR reflects a region deeply integrated into the New England rail economy. While the western portion of the map shows dense street grids and sites like the Sewage Disposal facility, the eastern terrain ascends toward the wilder slopes of Washington Mountain.

Water management for the growing settlements is a defining characteristic, evidenced by a network of reservoirs including Sackett Reservoir, Ashley Reservoir, and the Farnham Reservoir. The presence of the Appalachian Trail winding through the hills between Hinsdale and Dalton highlights the intersection of industrial development and the emerging recreational value of the Berkshire highlands during this era.