1951 Map of Betterton

About this map

Aberdeen Proving Grounds dominates the western shoreline of the northern Chesapeake Bay, illustrating the massive military footprint established in Harford County by the mid-20th century. The land is marked by artillery and tactical zones such as the Rifle Range and Pistol Range, which contrast with the adjacent Susquehanna National Wildlife Refuge. Across the water in Kent County, the landscape remains deeply agricultural and maritime, centered on the resort town of Betterton at the mouth of the Sassafras River. Inside the Stillpond Neck and Fairlee Neck peninsulas, the map documents a network of rural hamlets like Lynch, Coleman, and Hanesville, supported by the Pennsylvania RR. Local landmarks such as the Harford Furnace School and the Wildlife Banding Station reflect the area's long-standing intersection of educational, industrial, and conservationist interests during this post-war era.