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1980 Map of Bethany Beach

Name: 1980 Topographic Map of Bethany Beach
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1982
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1982

About this map

The coastal landscape of Bethany Beach is captured in this 1980 color infrared orthophotograph, showing the dense development of the barrier island and the intricate wetlands of the inland bays. The contrast between the built environment of the town and the expansive Atlantic Ocean reveals the narrow strip of land that defines this portion of Sussex County. Inland, the settlements of Millville and Ocean View are visible along the corridor leading to the shore, surrounded by a mosaic of agricultural fields and woodlands typical of the Delmarva Peninsula.

Waterways like White Creek and Miller Creek are shown feeding into the southern reaches of Indian River Bay. The aerial perspective highlights the network of small canals and docks that characterize the residential growth around these tidal waters. This survey provides a precise record of the shoreline and land-use patterns just before the significant expansion of coastal tourism in the late twentieth century.