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1943 Map of Blackwater River

Name: 1943 Topographic Map of Blackwater River
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1943
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1943

About this map

The labyrinthine wetlands of Dorchester County define this 1943 survey, where the Blackwater River and Little Blackwater River wind through a landscape of tidal marshes and freshwater ponds. Much of the western territory is designated as the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, established just a decade prior to this mapping. The map captures a transitional era for the Eastern Shore, showing small settlements like Seward, Bucktown, and Indianbone connected by narrow roads and river landings.

Maritime life is evident along the southern reaches, where Shorters Wharf, Barnes Ldg, and Robbins Ldg provide access to the complex waterway network of Dragon Swamp and Shorters Marsh. Dense interiors such as Green Brier Swamp and Kentuck Swamp are punctuated by family-named landmarks like Harpers Pond and Coulson Pond, reflecting centuries of local land use in this low-lying environment. The inclusion of the De Coursey Bridge and various drawbridges highlights the critical infrastructure required to navigate this water-dominant geography.