Map of New York State Railroads, 1840-1870

This map, created using KML files from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s “Railroads and the Making of Modern America” project, depicts railroad lines throughout New York State between 1840 and 1870. The various dates of construction are color-coded, and readers may use the legend to differentiate when each line was constructed and select which years to display using the “visible layers” icon. Readers may also hover over a line to see the name of the railroad. Where no name appears, this information was not part of the original KML file from UNL’s “Railroads” project.

Railroad construction in Columbia County dramatically increased throughout this period. In 1840, a single line (what would become the regional spur of the Boston and Albany line, known as the Hudson and Boston) ran east to west, connecting Hudson to Chatham and on to the Massachusetts state line. By 1850, track length would almost triple, as the New York Central and Hudson lines barreled through. This expansion continued through 1870, when the Rutland railroad (here unlabeled) connected Chatham with Vermont and points north.

In the railroad age, Columbia County, NY–and specifically Chatham and Hudson–were crucial junctures for both north-south and east-west railway traffic. As freight and travelers increasingly made their way throughout the county, they brought with them influential news, ideas, perspectives, and customs. The purpose of this study is to use the railroads as a starting point for thinking about the public institutions that increased rail traffic affected.