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1920 Map of Rochester

Name: 1920 Topographic Map of Rochester
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1933
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1933

About this map

The Genesee River cuts through the heart of Rochester in this early twentieth-century survey, revealing a landscape defined by industrial growth and shoreline recreation. Along the Lake Ontario coast, numerous beach resorts and points such as Ontario Beach, Windsor Beach, and Manitou Beach indicate the area's role as a regional retreat. The city itself is a hub of connectivity, where the Erie Canal and major rail lines like the New York Central and Hudson River R.R. converge near Lincoln Park.

Topographically, the map highlights the dramatic elevation of Pinnacle Hill and Cobb Hill overlooking the urban core. Beyond the city center, the township boundaries of Greece, Irondequoit, and Brighton contain a mix of established villages and burgeoning suburbs. The intricate detail of Irondequoit Bay and its surrounding wetlands, including Long Pond and Cranberry Pond, illustrates the complex geography of the lakefront before modern development fully altered the natural shoreline.