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1903 Map of Riverhead

Name: 1903 Topographic Map of Riverhead
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

Riverhead sits at the pivot point of the North and South Forks, where the Peconic River flows into Flanders Bay. At the start of the 20th century, this landscape was defined by its water-dependent settlements and the vital infrastructure of the Long Island Railroad. The southern coastline is particularly detailed, showing a string of Life-Saving Stations like Tiana L.S.S. and Potunk L.S.S. positioned along the narrow barrier beaches of Shinnecock Bay.

Inland, the map reveals the complex social geography of Suffolk County through dozens of small hamlets and landings. From the northern cliffs at Roanoke Landing on Long Island Sound to the intricate creeks of Westhampton Beach, the survey documents the era before massive suburban expansion. Genealogists can trace family-named locations such as Sawmill Cr. and Squiretown, alongside vanished placenames like Good Ground and the crossroads at Six Roads.