Loading map...

1893 Map of Portland

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

USGS Topo · Published 1898

About this map

The dense industrial and rail corridor of the Presumpscot River and the bustling harbor of Portland anchor this late 19th-century coastal survey. The map details a landscape in transition, where the expanding rail infrastructure of the Maine Central Railroad and the Portland and Rochester Railroad connect manufacturing hubs like Saccarappa and Cumberland Mills to the sea. To the south, the settlement pattern shifts toward the coast, following the Boston and Maine Railroad Eastern Division through Scarboro toward the developing seaside resort at Old Orchard.

Inland, the terrain is dotted with small settlements such as Deering Center and Woodfords, which had not yet been fully absorbed into the urban core. The survey captures the intricate hydrology of the region, from the tidal reaches of Back Cove and the Fore River to the inland winding of the Stroudwater River and Nonesuch River. This era shows a clear distinction between the maritime commerce of the city and the family-named landmarks like Graves Hill and Scotton Hill that define the agricultural and residential fringes.