{"product_id":"map-of-arlington-massachusetts-by-usgs-1985-boston-cambridge-mystic-lakes","title":"Map of Arlington, Massachusetts by USGS, 1985 – Boston, Cambridge \u0026 Mystic Lakes","description":"\u003cp\u003ePublished in 1986 from mapping dated 1985, the US Geological Survey’s “Boston North” captures the densely layered landscape immediately north and northwest of Boston at a precise 1:25,000 metric scale. It presents Arlington, Medford, Somerville, Winchester, and their neighboring communities as a finely observed metropolitan terrain, where streets, railways, waterways, parks, and elevations are all rendered with the clarity for which USGS topographic mapping is celebrated. The map belongs to a period when Greater Boston was continuing to absorb postwar suburban growth, highway expansion, and shifting patterns of land use. As a result, it offers a fascinating late twentieth-century portrait of an old New England urban region in transition, balancing historic town centers, industrial corridors, commuter routes, reservoirs, and green public spaces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe US Geological Survey brought a scientific precision to American cartography, and this map reflects the agency’s mature topographic style. Contour lines articulate the region’s modest but meaningful hills, while shaded relief gives visual depth to the undulating terrain around Winchester, Medford, and the Middlesex Fells. Varying greens distinguish wooded and recreational areas, while blues mark ponds, rivers, reservoirs, and wetlands with immediate legibility. Red road networks and transportation symbols add a dense urban rhythm, especially in Somerville, Cambridge, Everett, Malden, and the northern edge of Boston. The result is not merely a navigational document, but an elegant synthesis of natural form and built environment, revealing how closely the region’s settlement patterns follow watercourses, ridgelines, and routes of movement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWater is one of the defining themes of “Boston North.” The Mystic Lakes occupy a prominent place, forming a striking blue axis between Arlington, Winchester, and Medford, while Spy Pond appears as a compact landmark embedded in Arlington’s urban fabric. Winchester Reservoir, Spot Pond, the Aberjona River, and the Shawsheen River further reveal the hydrological complexity of the area. These waterways are not incidental; they shaped transportation, industry, recreation, and residential development across the northern Boston suburbs. The map’s topographic treatment makes their influence especially visible, showing how lowlands, basins, and valley routes provided natural corridors through an otherwise hilly landscape. In this sense, the sheet reads as both a geographic record and a quiet history of settlement shaped by water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe urban geography shown here is particularly rich. Somerville appears with its dense street grid and compact neighborhoods, reflecting one of the most tightly settled municipalities in New England. Medford stretches from older developed corridors toward larger open spaces, while Arlington shows the characteristic pattern of a streetcar suburb, arranged along routes leading toward Cambridge and Boston. Winchester, Woburn, Melrose, Malden, and Everett add further layers of residential, industrial, and commuter geography. Railways and major roadways trace the infrastructure that knit these communities into the broader Boston metropolitan system. Major intersections and highways stand out as late twentieth-century arteries, marking the region’s dependence on both historic rail corridors and modern automobile circulation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat makes this map especially compelling is the contrast between intense urbanization and preserved open land. Green-shaded parks and recreational spaces punctuate the metropolitan fabric, with the large natural reservations around Spot Pond and the Mystic Lakes offering a visual counterpoint to the surrounding street networks. These spaces speak to Greater Boston’s long tradition of public landscape planning, from nineteenth-century park systems to twentieth-century conservation efforts. Seen today, the 1985 landscape provides a valuable benchmark against which later development, transportation changes, and environmental management can be understood. “Boston North” is therefore both a technical achievement and a richly textured historical document, preserving a moment when one of America’s oldest urban regions was still visibly negotiating the relationship between city, suburb, water, and terrain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCities, towns and places on this map\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eArlington\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMedford\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSomerville\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWinchester\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWoburn\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMelrose\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMalden\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEverett\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCambridge\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBoston\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMystic Lakes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpy Pond\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWinchester Reservoir\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpot Pond\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShawsheen River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAberjona River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eParks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoadways\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRailways\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMajor intersections and highways\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistorical context \u0026amp; cartographic details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduced by the US Geological Survey (USGS), a U.S. government agency known for geological and topographic mapping.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDated 1985, with a published imprint of 1986.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDrawn at a 1:25,000 metric scale for detailed representation of terrain and features.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncludes contour lines to indicate elevation and shaded relief to illustrate terrain.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUses green and blue shading to highlight vegetation and water features.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShows hilly terrain, lakes, rivers, urban areas, parks, and recreational spaces.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCreated during a period of urban expansion in Massachusetts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProvides insight into changing land use, infrastructure, and regional development since the mid-1980s.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLooking for a particular place?\u003c\/strong\u003e Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/fr\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eask our workshop to check before you order\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDetailed 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please \u003ca href=\"\/fr\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eget in touch\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe model in the listing images is holding the 36x24in (90x60cm) version of this map.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/fr\/pages\/map-personalisation\"\u003eSee personalised map examples\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEvery 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith 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 \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/fr\/collections\/all-old-vintage-antique-maps\"\u003erare old and vintage maps\u003c\/a\u003e to discover another place, period or style.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Unique Maps Co.","offers":[{"title":"12x18in (30x45cm) \/ Map","offer_id":68126236901767,"sku":null,"price":54.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x18in (30x45cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68126236934535,"sku":null,"price":144.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x18in (30x45cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68126236967303,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"14x24in (36x60cm) \/ Map","offer_id":68126237000071,"sku":null,"price":100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"14x24in (36x60cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68126237032839,"sku":null,"price":219.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"14x24in (36x60cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68126237065607,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"24x36in (60x90cm) \/ Map","offer_id":68126237098375,"sku":null,"price":121.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"24x36in (60x90cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68126237131143,"sku":null,"price":328.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"24x36in (60x90cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68126237163911,"sku":null,"price":369.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"28x45in (70x114cm) \/ Map","offer_id":68126237196679,"sku":null,"price":158.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"28x45in (70x114cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68126237229447,"sku":null,"price":643.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"28x45in (70x114cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68126237262215,"sku":null,"price":643.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"31x50in (79x127cm) \/ Map","offer_id":68126237294983,"sku":null,"price":287.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"31x50in (79x127cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68126237327751,"sku":null,"price":1196.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"31x50in (79x127cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68126237360519,"sku":null,"price":1032.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"33x60in (84x150cm) \/ Map","offer_id":68126237393287,"sku":null,"price":383.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"33x60in (84x150cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68126237426055,"sku":null,"price":1913.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"33x60in (84x150cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68126237458823,"sku":null,"price":1777.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"44x70in (112x178cm) \/ Map","offer_id":68126237491591,"sku":null,"price":629.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"44x70in (112x178cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68126237524359,"sku":null,"price":2562.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"44x70in (112x178cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68126237557127,"sku":null,"price":2392.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0257\/0344\/8638\/files\/file_16da99b9-c8d2-42e4-9d42-42b308626bd0.jpg?v=1793872954","url":"https:\/\/uniquemaps.com\/fr\/products\/map-of-arlington-massachusetts-by-usgs-1985-boston-cambridge-mystic-lakes","provider":"The Unique Maps Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}