Published in 1941 from original 1906 survey data, the US Geological Survey’s “Kent” captures a revealing moment in northeastern Ohio’s transformation from rural township landscape to increasingly connected suburban and industrial territory. Centered on Hudson and its surrounding communities, the map records the region before the full force of postwar expansion reshaped its roads, neighborhoods, and commercial centers. The title itself places the sheet within the USGS quadrangle tradition, in which a seemingly modest locality becomes the organizing frame for a finely observed geographic portrait. Here, towns such as Streetsboro, Shalersville, Ravenna, Rootstown, Randolph, Suffield, Tallmadge, Brimfield, Mogadore, and Maple Heights appear within a carefully measured landscape of roads, railways, waterways, and settlement patterns.

The US Geological Survey, established in 1879, became one of the defining scientific institutions of American nation-building, creating the cartographic foundation for resource management, infrastructure planning, conservation, and development. Its topographic sheets were valued not merely as navigational tools, but as precise visual inventories of the land. In this “Kent” quadrangle, the USGS’s characteristic restraint and authority are evident in the disciplined line work, measured lettering, and systematic depiction of elevation. The map belongs to an era when federal mapping combined field observation with emerging national standards, producing documents of remarkable clarity. Every contour, stream, rail line, and road speaks to a methodical understanding of place, intended for engineers, planners, geologists, educators, and citizens alike.

Hudson, one of the principal communities shown, offers especially rich historical resonance. Known today for its preserved architecture, leafy parks, and refined village character, Hudson in the early twentieth century occupied a different position: still rooted in the agricultural and small-town traditions of Ohio’s Western Reserve, yet increasingly drawn into regional transportation and development networks. The map’s depiction of roads and railways around Hudson helps illuminate this transition. Nearby settlements such as Streetsboro and Ravenna appear not as isolated points, but as nodes within a broader landscape of movement and exchange. The result is a geographic record of communities on the cusp of change, before later suburban growth absorbed much of the surrounding countryside.

The topographic character of the map is central to its appeal. Delicate contour lines trace the rises, valleys, and subtle undulations of northeastern Ohio, rendering a landscape that might otherwise appear visually gentle into one of measurable complexity. Streams and rivers wind through the sheet, while lakes and reservoirs add hydrological structure to the terrain. These features reveal how water, elevation, and settlement interacted: roads followed practical grades, towns clustered near transportation routes, and land use responded to drainage and relief. The USGS style transforms such details into an elegant technical language, balancing scientific precision with quiet visual beauty. It is a map that rewards close reading, where terrain becomes history written in line.

As a historical document, “Kent” preserves the spatial memory of a region in transition. Its 1906 data reflects settlement patterns, rural roads, rail connections, and town footprints before decades of automobile expansion, suburban subdivision, and infrastructural modernization altered the landscape. The 1941 imprint adds another layer of context, presenting prewar Ohio through the lens of an earlier survey at a time when the United States was rapidly modernizing. Places such as Tallmadge, Brimfield, Mogadore, Rootstown, Randolph, and Suffield are shown within a networked countryside whose form is still legible beneath the contemporary built environment. For collectors, historians, and admirers of American cartography, this map offers both geographic precision and a quiet portrait of northeastern Ohio’s evolving identity.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Hudson
• Streetsboro
• Shalersville
• Ravenna
• Rootstown
• Randolph
• Suffield
• Tallmadge
• Brimfield
• Mogadore
• Maple Heights
• Roads and railways surrounding these areas
• Lakes and reservoirs depicted in the region
• Streams and rivers as indicated on the map

Historical context & cartographic details

• Historical 1:62,500 topographical map showing Hudson, Ohio, and the surrounding area
• Original survey data from 1906; published with a 1941 imprint
• Produced by the US Geological Survey (USGS)
• The USGS has played a major role in mapping the United States since its establishment in 1879
• Features contour lines indicating elevation changes, typical of USGS topographical maps
• Delicate line work illustrates terrain contours in a style characteristic of USGS maps from this era
• Displays varying elevations and geological features through contour lines and shading
• Reflects the landscape and settlement patterns of Hudson and nearby areas in the early 20th century
• Shows evidence of urban development and land-use changes over time
• Hudson is noted for its historic architecture, parks, and later growth into a suburban community

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 16x20in (40x50cm) 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.