1954 Map of Altamaha Sound

About this map

St Simons Island and its northern coastal reaches are defined by a complex network of salt marshes and tidal estuaries where the Altamaha River meets the Atlantic Ocean. This 1950s survey captures the area before modern development reached these outer points, highlighting established locations like Butler Point and Cannons Point on the northern tip of St. Simons. The map illustrates the critical maritime path of the Intracoastal Waterway as it threads through Buttermilk Sound and Altamaha Sound. To the north, the protected landscape of the Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge encompasses Wolf Island and the Wolf Island Spit, preserving a wilderness of tidal flats and winding creeks such as Beacon Creek and Beach Creek. This era of mapping shows numerous Artesian Wells scattered across the island hammocks, indicating early groundwater reliance for these remote coastal outposts.