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1920 Map of Rochester

Name: 1920 Topographic Map of Rochester
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1923
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1923

About this map

The Genesee River serves as the central artery for this early 20th-century landscape, carving through Rochester toward its outlet at Lake Ontario. This 1920 edition reflects a city transitioning into its modern footprint, with dense urban development concentrated at the river's falls and spreading toward the suburbs of Greece and Irondequoit. The shoreline is characterized by a series of lagoons and points, including Braddock Bay and Irondequoit Bay, which supported seasonal retreats like Manitou Beach.

A complex web of electric and steam rail lines, such as the Rochester and Sodus Bay Electric and the New York Central and Hudson River, highlights the region's reliance on rail transport for both industry and commuting. For local historians, the map preserves specific landmarks like the Genesee L.H. (lighthouse) and the State Industrial School, alongside former post offices like Maplewood Bealsburg PO.