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1940 Map of Weehawken

Name: 1940 Topographic Map of Weehawken
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1940
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1940

About this map

Industrial corridors and expansive tidal wetlands define this 1940 landscape between the Passaic River and the Hudson River. The Hackensack River winds through a vast marshy basin containing Eight Day Swamp and Walden Swamp, creating a natural barrier between the upland residential developments of Hasbrouck Heights and the dense urban grid of Union City. This era is characterized by massive transportation and aviation infrastructure, anchored by Bendix Airport and the sprawling rail networks of the Erie RR and Pennsylvania RR.

The map highlights significant civic and social landmarks of the period, from the Hudson County Penitentiary at Snake Hill to the numerous burial grounds like Flower Hill Cem and McPhelah Cem. The transition from riverfront industry to early 20th-century suburbanization is visible in the placement of Bendix Aviation alongside emerging residential blocks, while the sheer density of Weehawken and Hoboken contrasts sharply with the untamed meadowlands to the west.