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1916 Map of Belhaven

Name: 1916 Topographic Map of Belhaven
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1916
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1916

About this map

The coastal plains of Beaufort and Hyde counties are dominated here by the expansive East Dismal Swamp and Pantego Swamp, revealing a landscape undergoing intensive drainage and lumbering at the start of the 20th century. The Norfolk Southern RR and a dedicated Lumber RR penetrate the wetlands, connecting remote sidings like Sixteenmile Siding and Johnson Siding to the port at Belhaven. The map documents a transition from wild marsh to managed timberland, marked by an intricate network of canals including the Intercepting Canal and Broad Creek Canal.

Settlement is concentrated along the higher ridges and water margins, with Pantego and Pungo PO serving as inland hubs. Numerous family-named landings, such as Morrisons Store, Sawyers Landing, and Indian Landing, dot the winding Pungo River and its tributaries. Local educational life is visible through several rural campuses, including Upper Pungo School and Shallop Creek School, reflecting the scattered agricultural and timber-based communities of the era.