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1955 Map of Atkinson

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Atkinson
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

The Atlantic Coast Line railroad dictates the settlement pattern of this mid-century North Carolina coastal plain landscape, connecting the agricultural hubs of Atkinson and Ivanhoe. The area is defined by its intricate drainage system, where the Black River and Moores Creek wind through heavily forested lowlands. A unique mapping detail includes elliptical bay outlines, such as Kings Bay and Gum Boy, identified by aerial photography.

Social life in the mid-1950s centered on crossroads communities and rural institutions like Franklin High Sch and Bland High Sch. The map reveals a high density of country churches and family-named cemeteries, including St. Marys Ch, Wells Chapel, and the Herring Cemetery. To the east, the planned agricultural community of Penderlea stands out with its distinct grid of secondary roads and the Penderlea School, contrasting with the more organic growth found at Newtons Crossroads and Harrells.