1931 Map of Van Buren

About this map

The St John River defines the international boundary between Maine and New Brunswick on this 1931 survey, with the town of Van Buren and its neighboring settlement Keegan serving as focal points for the region's river-and-rail economy. The map illustrates a landscape shaped by transportation and agriculture, where the Canadian Pacific and Canadian National railroads parallel the water on both sides of the border. This era of rural development is marked by a network of one-room schoolhouses, such as School No 2 and Berube Sch, supporting the scattered farming communities of Hamlin and Caswell. To the south, the topography transitions from the river valley into a complex of wetlands and lakes, including Hammond Brook Lake and Little Black Brook Lake, highlighting the interior terrain that remained largely undeveloped outside of these organized townships.