1953 Map of Beaufort

About this map

The coastal landscape of North Carolina's inner and outer banks is dominated by massive military installations and protected wilderness areas in the mid-twentieth century. Major federal footprints are established at the Camp Lejeune US Naval Reservation and MCAS Cherry Point, while the northern reaches of the map show the emerging conservation efforts at Cape Lookout National Seashore and Cedar Island NWR. Inland, the terrain is characterized by extensive wetlands and managed timberlands, including the Croatan National Forest, Hofmann State Forest, and the massive Angola Swamp. Transportation networks of the era rely on the Atlantic Coast Line RR and Seaboard Air Line RR to connect coastal hubs like Morehead City and Beaufort with the agricultural interiors near Kenansville and Burgaw. The map captures the distinct barrier island geography from Bogue Banks up to the remote Portsmouth Island.