New Haven

Early Maps of New Haven

These images reproduce early maps of New Haven. Begun in 1637 as a spin off from the Puritan colony in Massachusetts Bay, New Haven was the first New England city to be laid out as a perfectly square grid in 1651. The design was an elegant success which retains much of its visual beauty to this day. As a pattern for living space, grids are ancient. They were the preferred method for laying out Roman military camps; the first "New World" cities built according to the concept were Spanish. New Spain's imperial capital, Santa Fe (now in New Mexico), was a grid in 1609. Although not an innovation in itself, New Haven's designers may claim to have passed along the best legacy a spacious, garden grid can afford.

• Next Photo: Nine Squares
• Previous Photo: Views of Harkness Memorial Tower and the skyline of New Haven
• Back to Public Space Index
• Social Life of Cities Home