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1895 Map of Richmond

Name: 1895 Topographic Map of Richmond
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1901
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1901

About this map

The James River and its industrial corridor dominate the southern extent of this late 19th-century landscape, where a dam and Belle Id. anchor the river's path through the urban centers of Richmond and Manchester. To the north and east, the terrain transitions into the strategic crossroads and wetlands of Hanover and Henrico Counties, marked by Horse Swamp and the winding Chickahominy River. The map meticulously documents the dense network of early transportation routes, including the Richmond Fredericksburg and Potomac R.R. and the historic Mechanicsville Turnpike.

Genealogists and historians will find significant detail in the placement of rural landmarks such as Merry Oaks Church, Walnut Grove Church, and Polly Huntly Corner. The area around Old Cold Harbor and the National Cemetery highlights the enduring memory of the region's mid-century conflicts, while the presence of Nelson Ferry on the Pamunkey River and numerous mills like Branche Mill reveal the water-based economy of the 1890s.