1977 Map of Salem Depot

About this map

Salem Depot and Salem anchor this 1970s orthophotoquad, showing the New Hampshire-Massachusetts borderlands at a time of significant suburban development. Unlike traditional topographic maps, this aerial imagery reveals the exact footprint of housing clusters, commercial centers, and the cleared land of the era. The landscape is defined by its water resources, with the Arlington Mill Reservoir and Canobie Lake serving as central landmarks amidst a mosaic of wooded tracts and expanding neighborhoods. The Merrimack River flows along the southeastern edge, illustrating the historic connection between these upland settlements and the regional river system. To the north and east, more open terrain surrounds Atkinson and Island Pond, capturing the varied density of Rockingham County before further modern expansion. This photographic survey provides researchers with a precise visual baseline for land use, showing the transition from rural woodlots to a structured suburban environment.