1901 (1915) U.S. Geological Survey Topographic Map of New York City

Produced soon after New York City's consolidation of the five boroughs, this large-format 1901 (reprinted 1915) topographic map of New York City and vicinity was produced by the U.S. Geological Survey. In addition to topographic information, it provides an excellent snapshot of the city at the turn of the 20th century.

A Closer Look

Coverage includes portions of Westchester County, New Jersey, Long Island, and all five boroughs of New York City. Topography is displayed throughout and coastal wetlands, especially in Jamaica Bay, New Jersey, and Staten Island, are indicated with blue ink. The urban grid of New York and other cities are illustrated, along with roads, railways, electric railways, piers, and administrative boundaries.

Some individual buildings are drawn and easily recognizable, such as the American Museum of Natural History and New York City Hall. As the map was originally produced in 1901, it includes the Brooklyn Bridge but not the Williamsburg, Manhattan, or Queensboro Bridges, built in the intervening years. As the population of the city was growing at a remarkable pace in the early 20th century, Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx also saw significant new development between 1901 and 1915.

Publication History and Census

This map was first published in 1901, soon after the city's consolidation in 1898, combining and updating quadrangle maps of the U.S. Geological Survey undertaken in the late 1880s. It was then reprinted by the Geological Survey in 1915 without significant changes. Aside from its size, this example is notable for being laid on linen.