U.S. Census Office, Railroad Systems of the United States: 1890 (1898)

The late nineteeth century was a period of dramatic growth for the nation's railroad systems. The railroads opened the way for settlement of the West, provided new economic opportunities, stimulated the development of town and communities, and tied different parts of the country together. At the same time, it had devastating effects on Native American peoples and the natural resources upon which they depended. This map is featured in the Statistical Atlas of the United States based upon the Results of the Eleventh Census, compiled under the direction of Henry Gannett. It depicts the approximately 163,597 miles of railways that spread across the United States as of 1890. According to Gannett, "Its gross earnings during the year exceeded $1,000,000,000, and its net income a little over $100,000,000" (p. 61). Commenting on the map, he wrote, "It is seen that the northern states are very fully supplied with this means of transportation; that, comparatively speaking, the south is insufficiently supplied, while in most parts of the west railroads are few" (p. 61). Although the amount of railroad track in the country had increased threefold since 1870, the system would continue to expand over the next several decades.