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1893 Map of Plainfield

Name: 1893 Topographic Map of Plainfield
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1898
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1898

About this map

The Great Swamp dominates the northwestern landscape of this late 19th-century survey, surrounded by established villages like New Vernon and Green Village. A dense network of industrial transit defines the region, where the Lehigh Valley Railroad and the Central Railroad of New Jersey converge toward major hubs. Near the southern edge, Raritan Landing sits along the Raritan River, a critical point for trade and transport that predates the heavy industrialization shown further inland.

Local history researchers can trace the early layout of communities such as Feltville, Locust Grove, and Branch Mills, many of which were small mill towns or crossroads at the time of this 1887 survey. The topography follows the ridgelines of Long Hill and the Sand Hills, providing a clear view of how terrain dictated the paths of early roads and rail lines. Notable landmarks like Connecticut Farms Union and Short Hills reflect the area's transition from rural farming tracts to the suburban developments that would eventually define Northern New Jersey.