1904 Map of Riverhead

About this map

The Peconic River bisects the landscape of eastern Long Island, flowing into Flanders Bay and separating the north and south forks. In this early twentieth-century survey, the town of Riverhead serves as the central hub where the Long Island Railroad meets the river. Along the southern shore, a network of life-saving stations, including Tiana L.S.S. and Potunk L.S.S., line the narrow barrier beach between the Atlantic Ocean and inland waters like Shinnecock Bay. The map captures a moment when the peninsula was defined by small coastal villages and agricultural reaches, from Baiting Hollow on the north shore to the established summer enclaves of West Hampton Beach and Good Ground. Geologists will note the distinct kettle hole ponds such as Great Pond and Swan Pond that dot the terminal moraine topography.