Map of New York City – 1879

Nineteenth-Century Urban Cartography of Greater New York

This exceptional antique map, published by J.H. Colton, captures the dense urban development of New York City and its surrounding municipalities during the mid-nineteenth century. The hand-colored steel engraving delineates the historical ward boundaries of Manhattan, the expanding streets of Brooklyn and Williamsburg, and the bustling waterfronts of Jersey City and Hoboken across the Hudson River.

Historical Manhattan Wards and Infrastructure Development

Framed by Colton’s distinctive interlocking decorative border, the archival document features a prominent inset map illustrating the northern section of Manhattan Island. It details early civic infrastructure, including local ferry routes, developing railroad lines, and iconic green spaces like Greenwood Cemetery, serving as an invaluable primary resource for researching American urban planning and ancestry roots in New York.