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1947 Map of Plainfield

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

USGS Topo · Published 1947

About this map

Camp Kilmer and the industrial corridors of central New Jersey dominate this post-war landscape, showing the dense intersection of rail and road networks in the late 1940s. The urban centers of Plainfield and New Brunswick are connected by a web of significant transportation lines, including the Central Railroad of New Jersey and the Lehigh Valley Railroad. While much of the area shows emerging suburban development, older settlements like Pumptown and New Durham remain distinct landmarks.

The topography transitions from the high ground of Washington Rock State Park in the north down toward the Raritan River and Raritan Canal in the south. Aviation history is preserved through the footprint of Hadley Airport, while the presence of Rutgers Stadium and George Buccleuch Park near the river indicates the established cultural and recreational geography of the era. The map serves as a detailed record of the region before the massive infrastructure changes of the mid-20th century.