Loading map...

1948 Map of Worcester North

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Worcester North
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

Worcester and the town of Holden are revealed in this 1948 revision, showing a mid-century landscape where institutional growth meets suburban expansion. The city’s northern core is dominated by sprawling educational and medical campuses, including Assumption College, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and several specialized healthcare facilities like the Worcester State Hospital. The transition from the dense urban grid to the hills is marked by landmarks such as the Rural Cem and Green Hill Park.

To the north and west, the influence of the Wachusett Reservoir system is evident, with the Holden Reservoirs and numerous ponds like Indian Lake providing critical water infrastructure. Transport networks are anchored by the Boston and Maine Railroad, which skirts the northern industrial and residential districts. Outlying settlements such as Chaffinville and Holden Center maintain their distinct identities even as the city’s footprint expands toward the Worcester Municipal Airport.