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1903 Map of Poughkeepsie

Name: 1903 Topographic Map of Poughkeepsie
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1904
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1904

About this map

The Hudson River serves as the primary artery for transport and industry in this early twentieth-century survey, dividing the landscape between Ulster and Dutchess counties. The bustling hub of Poughkeepsie is clearly defined with its dense street grid, anchored by College Hill and the campus of Vassar College. Along the riverbanks, the map documents a series of critical early institutions and infrastructure, including the Hudson River State Hospital to the north and the Asylum for Insane Criminals near Matteawan.

A complex web of competing railroads, such as the West Shore RR and the Central New England and Western RR, underscores the era's dependence on rail for both commerce and commuting. Riverside settlements like New Hamburg, Chelsea, and Milton are shown alongside active river features like Hampton Ferry and Danskammer Light. Inland, the terrain rises into the Fishkill Mountains, with smaller manufacturing and agricultural centers like Wappinger Falls and Fishkill Village connected by winding creeks and rail branches.