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1965 Map of Benns Church

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Benns Church
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

The hamlets and waterways of Isle of Wight County are captured here in the mid-1960s, a period when the rural landscape of coastal Virginia remained defined by small crossroad communities and tidal creeks. Smithfield stands prominently along the Pagan River, while further inland, the landmark St Lukes Ch (Old Brick Ch) and its adjacent St Lukes Cem provide a focal point for genealogical interest near Benns Church. The eastern edge of the survey is dominated by the marshy expanse of Ragged Island and the approach to the James River Bridge.

Maritime life and industry are evident in settlements like Battery Park and Rescue, where the map details a network of tidal flats and points including Gatling Point and Holly Point. South toward the Nansemond River, the map records the community of Hobson and the waters of Sleepy Lake. This geography, characterized by the transition from agricultural land to intricate river systems like Chuckatuck Creek, reveals the traditional settlement patterns before modern suburban expansion significantly altered the peninsula.