1905 Map of Plainfield

About this map

The Great Swamp and the dense network of the Passaic River dominate the northern reaches of this turn-of-the-century landscape, illustrating the complex hydrology before modern suburban drainage. The area is defined by its rapid turn-of-the-century transition from agricultural hamlets to organized commuter towns, anchored by the intense rail activity of the Central Railroad of New Jersey and the Pennsylvania Railroad. Major transportation corridors converge near Plainfield, connecting established centers like Westfield and Cranford with smaller, now-integrated locales such as New Orange and Connecticut Farms.