1954 Map of Beaufort

About this map

Wilmington serves as the urban anchor for this coastal survey, where the Northeast Cape Fear River meets a network of railroads including the Atlantic Coast Line RR and Seaboard Air Line RR. The mid-century landscape is defined by massive federal and state holdings, from the Camp Lejeune Military Reservation and Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station to the sprawling Croatan National Forest. Along the Atlantic, the intricate barrier island system features landmarks like Cape Lookout and Shackleford Banks, separating the open ocean from the sheltered waters of Bogue Sound and Core Sound. Inland, the geography is a mosaic of wetlands such as Angola Swamp and the Holly Shelter State Game Refuge, punctuated by rural crossroads and small-town centers like Jacksonville and Burgaw.