1899 Map of Westfield

About this map

Lake Erie defines the northern reaches of this Chautauqua County survey, where the shoreline and steep coastal escarpment dictate the movement of people and commerce. The industrial pulse of the late 19th century is evident in the dense concentration of rail infrastructure, including the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern R. R. and the New York Chicago and St Louis R. R., which run parallel to the coast. These lines connect coastal settlements like Barcelona and Westfield to the broader regional economy. Further inland, the terrain shifts into the dissected plateaus of The Gulf, where Chautauqua Creek carves a deep path through the township. The map records a series of small, rural hubs such as Volusia, Lombard, and Forsyth, alongside the Pennsylvania Boundary Line at the southwestern corner, illustrating the transition from lakefront transit to upland agriculture.