North & South Carolina

Carolina railroads in the late 19th century.

This interesting map of North and South Carolina was published in Chicago by George Cram in 1898. Like many standard atlas maps of the period, it presents a straightforward overview of county configuration, settlements of various sizes, standard geographic features, and statewide transportation networks.

It is in the last category that the image becomes particularly informative. Thirty-six different railway lines are noted across North Carolina, outlined according to the legend in the lower right, while South Carolina contains twenty-one operators. They represent a wealth of different scopes and interests, ranging from the passenger-focused Seaboard Air Line to the Butters Lumber Company, established the year prior to publication to serve a large sawmill complex. Though many of the routes are shared between the two states and several are subsidiaries of larger corporations, the vibrant system highlights the importance of railroads to both states’ economies.