Published in 1987 by the U.S. Geological Survey, “Lawrence, Massachusetts-New Hampshire” presents a precise topographical portrait of Andover and its neighboring communities at a moment of late twentieth-century transition. Drawn at the highly legible 1:25,000 scale, the map combines scientific rigor with the quiet elegance of USGS cartography: contour lines articulate the rise and fall of the land, while green tonal variations distinguish wooded areas, parks, and open spaces from denser settlement. Andover occupies a prominent position within the sheet, balanced between the older industrial geography of Lawrence to the north and the expanding suburban landscape of eastern Massachusetts. The result is both a technical survey and a historical record of place.

Andover is shown as a community shaped by roads, watercourses, and varied terrain. Residential neighborhoods spread outward from older village centers, while major transportation corridors reveal the forces guiding modern development. Boston Road, Route 28, and Interstate 93 cut through the landscape as principal arteries, linking Andover to Lawrence, the Merrimack Valley, and the broader Boston metropolitan region. The careful rendering of road networks, including local streets and circular intersections, gives the map an especially vivid sense of everyday geography. It captures the town not as an abstract municipality, but as a lived environment of neighborhoods, schools, parks, commuting routes, and green margins.

Water is one of the defining elements of this map. The Merrimack River, long central to the industrial and commercial history of Lawrence and the surrounding valley, anchors the northern portion of the sheet. The Shawsheen River winds through Andover, marking a more intimate hydrological landscape of lowlands, mills, crossings, and wooded corridors. Lake Cochichewick and Lake Nook add further texture, their shorelines contrasting with gridded streets and engineered highways. These waterways are more than scenic features: they have shaped settlement, industry, recreation, and conservation across the region. In the map’s disciplined topographic language, rivers and lakes become historical actors as well as geographical landmarks.

The map’s contouring reveals the subtle but important topographic variation of northeastern Massachusetts. Gentle hills, river valleys, and small elevation changes are registered with the clarity typical of USGS work, allowing the viewer to read the land beneath the built environment. Shades of green mark parks, woodland, and less developed ground, offering a visual counterpoint to the urban fabric of Lawrence and the suburban expansion around Andover. This interplay between developed and open land is one of the map’s great pleasures. It shows a region neither wholly urban nor rural, but a layered landscape where conservation areas, lakeshores, roads, and neighborhoods meet.

As a 1987 survey, “Lawrence, Massachusetts-New Hampshire” preserves a valuable snapshot of Andover and the Merrimack Valley before subsequent decades of growth, redevelopment, and conservation reshaped the area. It documents land use patterns at a pivotal moment, when suburban expansion, highway access, and environmental awareness were all influencing the future of the region. Parks and green spaces appear alongside expanding residential districts; historic routes coexist with interstate infrastructure; industrial Lawrence remains tied to the river that powered its rise. For collectors, historians, and those with ties to Andover, this map offers not only geographic information, but a richly detailed image of a changing New England landscape.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Andover
• Lawrence
• Merrimack River
• Shawsheen River
• Boston Road (Route 28)
• Interstate 93
• Lake Cochichewick
• Lake Nook
• Various parks and green spaces
• Residential neighborhoods
• Road networks, including circular intersections

Historical context & cartographic details

• Published by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in 1987.
• Historical topographical map titled “Lawrence, Massachusetts-New Hampshire.”
• Covers Andover, Massachusetts and the surrounding area, based on 1987 survey data.
• Drawn at a scale of 1:25,000.
• Features detailed contour lines showing elevation and terrain relief.
• Uses shades of green to represent different elevations, land use, parks, and wooded areas.
• Shows a mix of urban development, rural areas, lakes, and rivers.
• Provides a snapshot of the landscape before later urban development, conservation efforts, and land use changes.

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 36x24in (90x60cm) 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.