Sanborn Maps

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The Sanborn Maps were a series of maps of urbanized areas created by the Sanborn Map Company in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. They were used primarily by fire insurance agents to determine the degree of damage to a property and show accurate information to help them determine risks and establish premiums. The maps also described the status of local fire departments, water facilities, sprinklers, hydrants, cisterns, and alarm boxes as well as firewalls, windows, doors, elevators and chimneys and roof types. Because of their thoroughness and attention to detail, the maps have been praised by modern historians for providing "a guide to American urbanization that is unrivaled by other cartography and, for that matter, by few documentary resources of any kind."[1]

1884

112344556774Sanborn Map, 1884
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The September 1884 map gives the following information about Pensacola:

Population, 10,000. Prevailing Winds S.W. in Summer, N. in Winter.
2 Steam Fire Engines, 1 Hook & Ladder Co. 2000 Ft. of Hose, One Hundred & Fifty Firemen, Volunteer.
Water Facilities, Bay, Streams, Cisterns & Private Tanks.

Notes

1892

2345678999111213131341415Sanborn Map, 1892
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The January 1882 map gives the following information about Pensacola:

Population 15000.
Prevailing Winds, S.W. in Summer, N. in Winter.
Water Facilities
Gravity System. 2 Deane Pumps. Independent pumps boilers and engine, Stand Pipe 137' high, 20' Diam. cap'y, 325000 Galls. Water can be pumped direct to mains. Cap'y of engines 2 Million Galls. per diem.
11 Miles of W. Pipes. Principal Main 14" Diam. 120 Hyd'ts.
Fire Department
Volunteer 225 Men. 6 Independent Hose Carts. 1 Steam Fire Engine. 1 Hook & Ladder Truck. 3000 ft. of Hose. Electric Fire Alarm System. 27 boxes.

Notes

1903

2345678910111213141516171819202122232424262728282926313232161216Sanborn Map, 1903
About this image

The May 1903 map gives the following information about Pensacola:

Population 22,000
Prevailing Winds, S.W. in Summer, N. in Winter
Water Facilities Pensacola Water Co. Gravity and direct pressure system. Water supply from 14-4" and 4-6" driven wells, capacity 9000 galls. each per hour. 20 Miles of water pipes, 6", 12" & 14" diam. 193 Double hydrants. Gravity pressure 80 lbs. direct pressure 150 lbs. per sq. inch.
Water pumped to iron stand pipe capacity 325,000 galls. 137 ft high. by two Deane duplex pumps, cap'y 2 million galls each per 24 hours.
Two storage reservoirs at pumping station, capacity 300,000 galls. each.
Fire Department, Paid. 28 Men. Gamewell fire alarm system, 34 boxes.
Four hose carts. 750 ft 2½" hose to each.
One hook & ladder truck.
One 3d class Silsby steam fire engine.
3500 ft. 2½" hose in good condition.
Grades nearly level throughout town.

Notes

  • The index map incorrectly shows Tarragona Street as the divider of east-west streets, instead of Palafox. Interior sheets show the correct addresses, however.

Abbreviations

  • B. & S. — Books and stationery
  • Bill'ds — Billiards
  • Bl'ksm. — Blacksmith
  • Board'g — Boarding
  • Carp'r — Carpenter
  • Cist. — Cistern
  • Clo. — Clothier
  • D., Dwg. — Dwelling
  • D. G. — Dry goods
  • Fac. — Factory
  • Furn'e. — Furniture
  • Genl Mdse — General merchandise
  • Gen'l S. — General store
  • Gro. — Grocery
  • Ho. — House, as in Carriage Ho. or Ice Ho.
  • Hyd. — Hydrant
  • Ins. Off. — Insurance office
  • Mach. Shop &mdash Machine shop
  • Mill'y. — Millinery
  • Off. — Office
  • P. O. — Post office
  • R. C. Church — Roman Catholic church
  • Rest., Rest'r't, Restau'rt — Restaurant
  • Rm. — Room
  • S.' — Store
  • Sal. — Saloon
  • Vac. — Vacant
  • Who., Whol. — Wholesale
  • W. Ho., Wa. Ho., Ware Ho. — Warehouse

External links & references

  1. Keister, Kim. 1993. “Charts of Change.” Historic Preservation, vol. 45 no. 3. May/June pp. 42-49.