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1893 Map of Plainfield

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

USGS Topo · Published 1893

About this map

The Great Swamp dominates the northwestern corner of this landscape, a significant natural feature that shaped the early development patterns of Morris and Union counties. This 1887 survey, published in 1893, reveals a region in the midst of a railway-driven expansion, with lines like the Central Railroad of New Jersey and the Lehigh Valley Railroad carving through the countryside. These corridors spurred the growth of commuter hubs and industrial outposts alike, from the manufacturing at Stanley and Milltown to the residential clusters forming in Westfield and Summit.

Evidence of an earlier agrarian and small-scale industrial era remains visible through place names like Branch Mills, Locust Grove, and the hamlet of Feltville. The complex hydrology of the region is meticulously documented, showing the winding course of the Passaic River and the marshy expanses of Ash Swamp and Dismal Swamp. Genealogists will find particular value in the identification of localized neighborhoods such as Connecticut Farms Union and Headleytown, reflecting a period when community identity was tied closely to small parish centers and crossroads.