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1957 Map of Providence

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Providence
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1967
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1967

About this map

Providence and its industrial satellites are captured here in a period of dense post-war development, radiating from the State Capitol and the bustling downtown core. The landscape is a network of tightly packed neighborhoods like Olneyville, South Providence, and Geneva, which grew alongside the Woonasquatucket River and the New York New Haven and Hartford RR. This era shows a city deeply invested in its social and educational infrastructure, evidenced by the sprawling Providence College, Pembroke College, and the massive State Institutions complex to the south.

The map details an intricate system of water bodies and green spaces integrated into the urban fabric, from the ornamental waters of Roger Williams Park to industrial reservoirs like Neutaconkanut Res and Print Works Pond. Genealogists will find significant value in the clearly delineated boundaries of historic interments, including the North Burial Ground and Swan Point Cemetery, while the presence of a Graphite Mine and various Gravel Pits reflects the area's geological and extractive history.