1904 Map of Riverhead

About this map

Riverhead serves as the focal point of this Eastern Long Island landscape, situated where the Peconic River empties into Flanders Bay. The map captures a maritime and agricultural corridor defined by its relationship to the water, from the north shore beaches at Baiting Hollow and Roanoke Landing to the barrier beaches along the Atlantic Ocean. The presence of life-saving stations like Tiana L.S.S. and Moriches L.S.S. underscores the importance of coastal safety along the outer sandbars of Shinnecock Bay. Settlement patterns follow the Long Island Railroad and its Montauk Division, which provided critical connections for villages like Good Ground, Speonk, and Jamesport. The Shinnecock Canal at Canoe Place is a prominent engineering feature, linking the great bay system to the south shore waters, while interior landmarks like Bald Hill offer perspective over the sprawling pine barrens and tidal creeks.