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1902 Map of Waverly

Name: 1902 Topographic Map of Waverly
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1902
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1902

About this map

Chemung River valley life at the turn of the century is defined here by the heavy presence of the Lehigh Valley R. R. and the Erie R. R., which weave through the complex glacial topography of the Southern Tier. The map highlights numerous small rail-dependent settlements such as Van Etten, Breesport, and Swartwood, many of which were vital nodes for local agriculture and timber. The convergence of multiple lines at Van Etten Junction illustrates the region's importance as a transportation hub for the Elmira and Cortland Branch.

Upland from the river bottoms, family-named peaks like Austin Hill and Shoemaker Mt. overlook a landscape carved by Baldwin Creek and Cayuta Creek. The density of named rural roads and small hamlets like South Erin and North Chemung provides a detailed view of the rural settlement patterns before the dominance of modern highways, capturing the area just as the New York Pennsylvania Boundary Line was being formally surveyed and maintained.