1893 Map of Scranton

About this map

The Scranton coal region is revealed here in the late 19th century, defined by a dense industrial corridor following the Lackawanna River and a massive concentration of rail infrastructure. The urban grid of Scranton is surrounded by established boroughs like Hyde Park, Dunmore, and Providence, while to the northeast, a chain of mining towns including Dickson City, Olyphant, and Archbald traces the valley floor. This survey illustrates the intense competition for access to the anthracite fields, with the Delaware Lackawanna and Western RR, N. Y. O. & W. RR, and the Central RR of New Jersey all weaving through the narrow gap between the Moosic Mountains and the hills of Newton. To the south and east, the landscape transitions into the watershed of Roaring Brook and Spring Brook, where smaller settlements like Moscow and Daleville offer a contrast to the industrial valley.