Loading map...

1985 Map of Somerset

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Somerset
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

The Taunton River serves as the central artery for this mid-1980s landscape, winding south toward Fall River through a region defined by its tidal marshes and growing suburban infrastructure. This period shows the established residential patterns of Somerset and Pottersville, contrasted with the larger wooded tracts of the Freetown State Forest and Berkley State Forest. Local history is anchored by the Old Town Landing and the famous petroglyphs near Dighton Rock State Park, which highlight the area's long-standing connection to the riverfront.

The presence of numerous family-named burial sites such as Simmons Cem and Bosworth Cem alongside newer industrial features like the Powerplant and Conrail lines illustrates the transition from an agrarian past to an 20th-century industrial and transport hub. From the Somerset Reservoir to the marshes of Assonet Bay, the map captures a moment when traditional maritime landings and small settlements like Chestnut Tree Corner existed alongside the modern bypasses of State Hwy 24 and Interstate 195.