Published in 1910 from survey work dated 1892, the US Geological Survey’s “Hartford” presents the Connecticut capital and its western neighbor, West Hartford, at a revealing moment in the region’s transformation. Drawn at the detailed 1:62,500 scale, the map captures a landscape poised between rural New England and modern metropolitan growth. Hartford appears as the established urban center on the Connecticut River, while West Hartford, Newington, Wethersfield, Windsor, South Windsor, and Farmington are shown amid a fabric of roads, railways, waterways, reservoirs, and rising ground. The result is both a practical scientific document and an evocative historical portrait: a measured view of central Connecticut before the full spread of twentieth-century suburban development reshaped its towns and open spaces.

The map reflects the disciplined style of the US Geological Survey, an agency founded in the late nineteenth century to bring systematic scientific mapping to the United States. Its topographical sheets became essential tools for engineers, planners, conservationists, educators, and travelers, offering a standardized visual language for understanding terrain. Here, the familiar USGS vocabulary is especially compelling: contour lines describe the hills and valleys with quiet precision, blue delineates the Connecticut River, Park River, reservoirs, and other water features, while warm land tones and crisp linework organize the inhabited and cultivated landscape. The design has the authority of a government survey, yet also the visual elegance of early twentieth-century cartography, where clarity and restraint create a remarkably handsome composition.

West Hartford and Hartford form the heart of the sheet, but the surrounding geography gives the map much of its character. The broad Connecticut River anchors the eastern side of the region, its course shaping settlement, commerce, and transportation routes. Wethersfield, one of Connecticut’s oldest towns, lies along this historic river corridor, while Windsor and South Windsor extend the map’s northern reach. To the west, Farmington and the approaches toward Talcott Mountain mark the transition from river valley to upland terrain. The Park River, reservoirs, and local drainage patterns reveal a landscape where water shaped both natural scenery and civic infrastructure. These features make the map a finely layered record of settlement, movement, and environmental adaptation.

The topographic detail is particularly important in understanding the Hartford region’s physical setting. Contour lines trace the gentle but meaningful variations in elevation around West Hartford, Mount Sinai, and Talcott Mountain, emphasizing the ridges and valleys that influenced roads, neighborhoods, agriculture, and recreation. Talcott Mountain, rising west of the city, is shown not merely as a landmark but as part of a broader geological structure framing the Connecticut River Valley. Reservoirs and upland water sources hint at the growing demands of an expanding urban population, while railways and major thoroughfares reveal the transportation framework of the era. The map therefore records both nature and infrastructure, showing how terrain guided the region’s development.

As a historical document, “Hartford” offers a compelling snapshot of central Connecticut before automobiles and suburban expansion fully remade the region. The contrast between dense urban Hartford and the more open surroundings of West Hartford, Newington, Farmington, and South Windsor speaks to changing patterns of land use at the end of the nineteenth century. Rail lines still command attention, roads follow older local routes, and the countryside remains legible around the towns. For collectors, the map’s appeal lies in this balance of scientific accuracy and historical atmosphere: it shows familiar places in an earlier form, when rivers, ridges, reservoirs, and railways still defined the experience of moving through the Hartford landscape.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• West Hartford
• Hartford
• Windsor
• South Windsor
• Annawomscutt
• Newington
• Wethersfield
• Farmington
• Connecticut River
• Park River
• Reservoir
• Mount Sinai
• Talcott Mountain
• Nearby railways
• Streets and roads, including major thoroughfares of the time

Historical context & cartographic details

• Produced by the US Geological Survey as a historical 1:62,500 topographical map.
• Dated 1892, with an imprint from 1910.
• Shows West Hartford, Connecticut, and the surrounding Hartford area.
• The US Geological Survey was a key agency responsible for mapping and survey data in the United States.
• USGS topographical maps supported urban planning, environmental conservation, outdoor recreation, and scientific research.
• Features contour lines to indicate elevation changes and depict hills, valleys, and terrain.
• Uses a distinctive early 20th-century cartographic color scheme, including yellow for land and blue for water features.
• Reflects changes in land use and urban development since 1892.
• Provides a snapshot of the geographic and environmental conditions of the period.

Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.

Detailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.

Every piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.

With its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.