1938 Map of Ramapo

About this map

The Erie Railroad carves through the narrow valley of the Mahwah River, connecting industrial settlements like Sloatsburg, Ramapo, and Suffern against the backdrop of the Ramapo Mountains. This pre-war landscape is defined by its institutional and industrial footprint, featuring the sprawling grounds of the Letchworth Village State Institute for Feeble Minded and social landmarks such as the Kings Land Home and St Agatha Home. To the west, the rugged terrain of Harriman State Park preserves the region's mining heritage, including the Sterling Mine and Hogencamp Mine near numerous glacial water bodies like Tuxedo Lake and Sebago Lake. The map details a transition from the dense mountain forests and iron-rich peaks to the developing suburbs of Spring Valley and Pearl River, where local education and faith are centered at places like Harriman Farm Sch and Wesley Chapel.