1888 Map of Taunton

About this map

Taunton serves as the central hub of this late 19th-century landscape, appearing as a dense network of streets and rail lines that reflect its industrial prominence in Bristol County. The Taunton River and its tributaries, including the Mill River and Three Mile River, provided the necessary power and transport for local industry, evidenced by the Copper Works and Swansea Factory. The map captures a sophisticated transportation network before the dominance of the automobile, dominated by the Old Colony Railroad Main Line and various branches like the Attleboro Branch. Beyond the urban core, the terrain is defined by significant wetlands like the Great Cedar Swamp and Squannakonk Swamp, while landmarks such as the Almshouse and Annawon Rock offer specific points of interest for local historians and genealogists researching the social and geological fabric of the era.