Loading map...

1956 Map of Portland West

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Portland West
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

The Presumpscot River and Stroudwater River systems define the industrial and residential corridors of this mid-1950s Maine landscape. This era shows the heavy footprint of the Maine Central Railroad and the Boston and Maine Railroad as they weave through established neighborhoods like Rosemont, Libbytown, and Cumberland Mills. The map captures a period of significant institutional growth, featuring prominent landmarks such as the Westbrook Junior College, the University of Maine (Portland), and the State School for Boys.

Transit infrastructure is in a state of evolution, evidenced by the Maine Turnpike and its Toll Gate system alongside the Portland Municipal Airport. Local social history is deeply embedded in the numerous cemeteries like Evergreen Cemetery and Forest City Cemetery, as well as the neighborhood schools and churches that anchor communities from Prides Corner to Cash Corner. The inclusion of various borrow pits and a Quarry near Graves Hill points to the ongoing material extraction that fueled the region's mid-century expansion.