1901 Map of Tonawanda

About this map

The industrial and transit convergence at North Tonawanda and Tonawanda anchors this 1901 survey, revealing a landscape defined by the Erie Canal and a dense network of competing rail lines. As a critical junction between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic, the area shows the early development of Martinsville and Ellicott along the canal's path. Northward, the Tuscarora Indian Reservation occupies the center of the sheet, surrounded by agricultural hamlets like Sanborn and Pekin. The map documents the intricate waterways feeding the Niagara River, including Cayuga Creek and Bergholtz Creek, alongside vanished riverbank landmarks such as Peach Haven on Grand Island. This period captures the region's height as a timber and transportation hub before the large-scale suburbanization of the late twentieth century, with distinct settlements like Model City and St. Johnsburg still maintaining their individual character.