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1950 Map of Sterling

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Sterling
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

The Stillwater River and Quinapoxet River converge in this mid-century portrait of Central Massachusetts, feeding the critical northern reaches of the Wachusett Reservoir. The landscape is defined by its hydraulic infrastructure, notably the Quabbin Aqueduct and several basins such as Thomas Basin and Stillwater Basin. Small rural centers like Sterling and West Sterling are depicted alongside localized crossroads such as Moores Corners and Sterling Junction, providing a detailed look at the area's settlement patterns before later suburban expansion.

Genealogists and local historians can locate numerous family-named landmarks and civic foundations, including the Butterick Sch and the County Training Sch near Oakdale. The map preserves the locations of several burial grounds, from the High Plain Cem to the West Sterling Cem, nestled among the wooded uplands of Justice Hill and Kendall Hill. The inclusion of the Sterling Airport (Private) and the expansive State Forest tracts reflects the region's mid-20th-century mix of recreation, aviation, and conservation.