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1953 Map of Presque Isle

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Presque Isle
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

Presque Isle serves as the bustling hub of the central Aroostook region in the early 1950s, defined by its strategic military presence and agricultural roots. The Presque Isle Air Force Base dominates the landscape north of the city center, while the State Experimental Farm and Aroostook State Teachers College reflect the area’s dedication to regional development and education. The Bangor and Aroostook railroad network connects smaller outlying settlements like Mapleton, Chapman, and Spragueville through a terrain of ridges and valleys.

To the west, the landscape rises toward Hedgehog Mountain and Haystack Mtn, offering a stark contrast to the fertile river valleys. Significant water features like Squapan Lake and the Aroostook River anchor the topography, providing both utility and recreation, the latter highlighted by Aroostook State Park near Quaggy Joe Lake. This map documents a period when the timber and potato economies were increasingly integrated with Cold War era military infrastructure.