Map of Sharon, Connecticut by USGS, 1993 – Waterbury, Litchfield & Housatonic River

Published in 1993 under the title “Waterbury, Connecticut–New York,” this United States Geological Survey map presents northwestern Connecticut and adjacent New York in the disciplined, data-rich language of late twentieth-century topography. At 1:100,000 scale, it offers a broad regional view while retaining the precision for which the USGS is renowned: contours trace the rise and fall of the Litchfield Hills, blue hydrography articulates rivers and lakes, and color-coded land classifications distinguish settlement, forest, water, and transportation corridors. Sharon, Connecticut, appears within a wider landscape of historic towns, upland ridges, river valleys, and rural road networks, making the map both a scientific document and a portrait of a region poised between pastoral inheritance and modern development.

The USGS, founded in 1879, transformed American mapping by applying standardized survey methods to the vast and varied geography of the United States. By the time this map was issued, the agency’s topographic style had become an authoritative visual vocabulary: brown contour lines for elevation, black for cultural features, blue for water, green for vegetation, and red or magenta for major roads and urban emphasis. Here, that system brings clarity to a complex terrain of old mill towns, wooded highlands, reservoirs, and agricultural valleys. The map’s elegance lies in its restraint—no decorative flourishes are needed when the shape of the land itself supplies the drama.

Waterbury anchors the southeastern portion of the sheet, its urban form contrasting with the more rural and upland character of towns such as Sharon, Kent, Norfolk, Litchfield, Torrington, and East Canaan. The map captures a region deeply shaped by Connecticut’s industrial and agricultural past: compact town centers, branching local roads, rail lines, and valley routes suggest patterns of settlement that followed waterpower, iron, farming, and later automobile access. New Milford and Litchfield appear as important regional centers, while smaller communities are woven into the hills and along stream corridors. The resulting image is one of layered habitation, where colonial townscapes, industrial-era infrastructure, and late twentieth-century development coexist.

Hydrology is one of the map’s most compelling features. The Housatonic River runs as a defining north-south presence, gathering tributaries and carving a corridor through the highlands. The Shepaug River and Ten Mile River add further complexity, while Lake Waramaug, Bantam Lake, and Lake Lillinonah stand out as distinctive blue expanses amid the contours and woodland shading. These waters are not merely scenic features; they have influenced settlement, transport, industry, recreation, and conservation across the region. The map allows the viewer to see how towns and roads relate to valleys, lake basins, and river crossings, revealing the enduring practical logic behind the region’s human geography.

The inclusion of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and numerous state parks and forests gives the map particular appeal as a record of protected landscapes in 1993. In the northwestern hills, conservation lands, trails, and forested ridges indicate a region valued not only for settlement and transport but also for recreation, ecology, and scenic preservation. Contour lines make the upland character of the area immediately legible, showing the ridges, hollows, and watersheds that define this corner of Connecticut and neighboring New York. As a historical document, the map preserves a moment in the region’s development, capturing roadways, railroads, town patterns, and natural features with the quiet authority of federal cartography.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Sharon
• Waterbury
• New Milford
• Litchfield
• Kent
• Torrington
• Norfolk
• East Canaan
• Lake Waramaug
• Housatonic River
• Shepaug River
• Ten Mile River
• Lake Lillinonah
• Bantam Lake
• Appalachian National Scenic Trail
• State parks and forests
• State highways and local roads
• Railroads and trails

Historical context & cartographic details

• Published as Waterbury, Connecticut–New York
• Produced by the United States Geological Survey (USGS)
• Dated 1993, with a 1993 imprint
• Historical 1:100,000-scale topographical map
• Uses color coding and contour lines to show elevations and landforms
• Depicts terrain through elevation contours, water bodies, and vegetation classifications
• Provides insight into regional geography, land use, urban development, and natural features as they appeared in 1993

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.