1916 Map of Portland

About this map

The coastal and inland landscape surrounding Portland reveals a complex network of early 20th-century industry and infrastructure. Centered on the tidal waters of Back Cove and the Fore River, the area is defined by its rail-oriented expansion. The Boston and Maine Railroad and the Worcester Nashua and Portland Division cross the terrain, connecting mill settlements like Cumberland Mills and Westbrook to the urban core. To the north, the Presumpscot River winds past Riverton Park, while the southern reaches towards Saco Bay show the transition to coastal geography at Prouts Neck and Higgins Beach. This survey records numerous neighborhood schools and institutions, including the State Reform School and several rural town farms. Beyond the growing urban grid, the landscape is punctuated by family-named landmarks like Scottow Hill and small rural meeting houses such as the Buggy Meetinghouse, providing a look at the social and economic fabric of the region before the arrival of modern interstate highways.