1898 Map of Somerville

About this map

Raritan River and its numerous branches dominate this late 19th-century landscape, illustrating the critical role of water for both transportation and power. In the southern portion of the sheet, the Water-Power Co's Raceway near Somerville highlights early industrial engineering alongside the Central Railroad of New Jersey. The map documents a dense network of established villages like Basking Ridge, Bernardsville, and Pottersville, connected by a complex system of rail lines including the Lehigh Valley Railroad and the Delaware Lackawanna and Western R. R. To the north, the terrain rises toward Mine Mtn. and Chimney Rock, while the eastern border follows the winding Passaic River through Millington and White Bridge. This survey captures the transition from a river-dependent economy to one increasingly shaped by the steam-powered connectivity of the regional rail hubs.