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1955 Map of Roselle

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Roselle
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

The Passaic River and Rahway River define the industrial and residential corridors of Union and Essex counties during this mid-century period of suburban expansion. Major rail lines, including the Lackawanna RR and Pennsylvania RR, cut through established neighborhoods in Summit, Westfield, and Cranford, while the newly developed Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike signal the rising dominance of the automobile.

Genealogists and local historians can locate numerous parochial and public institutions, from St Elizabeths Sch in Linden to the Oratory Sch in Summit. The landscape is punctuated by significant green spaces such as the South Mountain Reservation and Watchung Reservation, which preserved the natural character of the ridges even as the surrounding boroughs like Roselle Park and Kenilworth grew densely settled. Water management features, including Reservoir No 1 and Diamond Mill Pond, reflect the infrastructure required to support the region's burgeoning population.