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1957 Map of Augusta

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Augusta
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1984
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1984

About this map

The Savannah River Plant (Atomic Energy Commission) dominates the riverfront south of Augusta, marking a transformative era of Cold War infrastructure along the Savannah River. This 1957 survey captures the Central Savannah River Area and the South Carolina Midlands during a period of significant military and industrial expansion, with Fort Gordon and Shaw Air Force Base anchored near the regional hubs of Aiken and Sumter. The landscape is defined by its complex hydrology, from the Sand Hills to the massive reservoirs of Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie, which were relatively recent additions to the geography of the Santee Basin.

A dense network of railroads, including the Southern Railway and Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, connects numerous small agricultural and timber communities like Bamberg, Denmark, and Saint George. Extensive conservation and recreation areas are visible, such as Manchester State Forest and the Santee National Wildlife Refuge, illustrating the balance between massive federal projects and the preservation of the region's swamps and forests.