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1901 Map of West Point

Name: 1901 Topographic Map of West Point
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1905
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1905

About this map

The Hudson River carves a deep path through the Highlands in this late nineteenth-century survey, anchoring a landscape of military significance and early industrial reach. West Point dominates the western bank, featuring Ft Putnam and the Lusk Reservoir, while the surrounding heights of Storm King, Crows Nest, and Anthony's Nose define the river's narrow passage. The era's transportation network is clearly defined by the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad hugging the eastern shore and the West Shore Railroad on the west, connecting river towns like Cold Spring and Highland Falls.

Further inland, the map reveals a transition to the mining and reservoir systems vital to the region's growth. The Mahopac Mines and its associated Mahopac Mines Branch rail line reflect the extractive economy of the day, while Boyd Corners Reservoir and Oscawana Lake highlight the managed water resources of the New York Highlands. Small settlements such as McKeel Corners and Travis Corners dot the winding roads, offering a look at the rural hamlets that predated modern suburban expansion in Westchester and Putnam counties.