1899 Map of Silver Creek

About this map

Lake Erie defines the northwestern boundary of this late 19th-century landscape, where a dense network of major railroads converges to follow the coastline. The industrial and transit corridor is dominated by the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern R. R. and the New York Chicago and St. Louis R. R., which pass through growing trackside settlements like Angola and Silver Creek. The inland terrain is marked by significant topographical shifts as the land rises away from the lake, particularly around the winding path of Cattaraugus Creek. This waterway serves as a natural anchor for the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation, which spans the intersection of Hanover, Brant, and Perrysburg. Smaller hamlets such as Smiths Mills and Hanover Center suggest the agricultural foundations of Chautauqua and Erie counties before the further expansion of the regional industrial economy.