Atlas of Kennebec County Maine

Detailed atlas of Kennebec County, Maine from the late 1870s.

This incredible atlas provides a thorough overview of Maine’s Kennebec County during the late 19th century. The area represented within is situated in the south-central part of the state and includes the capital of Augusta. A single-page map of the county shows it divided into individually colored townships; with settlements, the transportation network, and prominent geographic features labeled. This is followed by a four-page county history written by Dr. W.B. Lapham.

The bulk of the atlas is comprised of 13 double-page and 26 single-page maps of townships, villages, and cities. The majority of these provide information on land ownership, property divisions, public areas (parks, cemeteries, etc.), and important buildings. Of notable interest are the multi-ward plans of the cities of Augusta and Gardiner. The atlas concludes with a three-page Patrons’ Business Reference.

This likely refers to the list of residents who ‘subscribed’ to the publication of the atlas by providing funds up-front to defray the costs. This was a common method of publishing county atlases in the late-19th century. For a set fee, subscribers were among the first to receive the finished work and often had the opportunity to pay extra for custom additions. As a result, many examples of county atlases include portraits of individual patrons, views of personal residences and businesses, and even images of prize farm animals!

The maps were compiled and drawn by H.F. Halfpenny and engraved by Worley & Bracher. The atlas was published in Philadelphia in 1879 by Caldwell and Halfpenny, with printing performed by F. Bourquin.