You can learn all sorts of interesting trivia by pouring over old maps.
For instance, according to a topographical map created in 1899, City Island used to be called Foster Island.
Foster Island
The 1956 version shows the Market St. bridge as a toll bridge.
Who knew?
I think I want to be a cartographer if/when I grow up.
At the State Archives there used to be a guy whose job it was to identify “un-owned” property. For instance, one property line might end at the top of a ridge, and the neighbor’s would begin at the bottom; but no one owned the ridge itself. His days were spent pouring over old maps. It sounds like you would enjoy that.