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1954 Map of Bayport

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Bayport
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

Bayport and the surrounding Hernando County coast are defined by an intricate network of tidal creeks and brackish wetlands during the mid-1950s. The landscape is dominated by the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge and the Chassahowitzka Swamp, where myriad islands like Lemon Grove Island and Wagon Wheel Island emerge from the marsh. The coastal settlements of Pine Island and Cooglers Beach sit at the edge of the Gulf of Mexico, separated from the mainland by expansive shoal lines and foul areas.

Water serves as the primary character of this region, from the deep Mud River Spring to the winding Weekiwachee River and Jenkins Creek. The transition from the Weekiwachee Swamp to open water is marked by distinctive points and bays such as Centipede Bay and Rice Creek Bay. This survey captures a specific moment in Florida's coastal geography before later development, preserving the original configurations of family-named landmarks and the natural drainage patterns of the Gulf coast.