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1954 Map of Princeton

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Princeton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1982
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1982

About this map

Princeton University and the surrounding academic landscape define this mid-century view of central New Jersey. The map details a sophisticated network of institutions and historical sites, including the Theological Seminary, Westminster Choir College, and the sprawling grounds of the Lawrenceville School. Beyond the campus centers, the terrain transitions into the wetlands of Bear Swamp and the waters of Lake Carnegie and the Millstone River.

Interstate expansion and suburban growth are evident in the purple-tinted revisions, showing how newer developments began to encircle established points like Penns Neck and Princeton Junction. For the local historian, the map preserves the locations of numerous family and community landmarks, from the Witherspoon Cem and Stony Brook Ch to the National Guard Armory and the Overseas Radio Transmitting Area. This survey documents a period when the academic and residential character of the region was rapidly modernizing while still maintaining its deep historical footprint near Princeton Battlefield State Park.