1944 Map of Brandywine

About this map

The Cheltenham School for Boys and the nearby USC & GS Mag Observatory anchor the northern landscape of this Prince George's County survey, which reveals a transition from managed forests to emerging rail-side settlements. The Pennsylvania railroad line cuts diagonally through Brandywine, connecting scattered communities like Brandywine Heights and Townshend. Further south, the vast expanse of the Cedarville State Forest straddles the line between Prince Georges Co and Charles Co, where the headwaters of Mattawoman Creek and Butlers Branch define the drainage patterns. Smaller hamlets such as Horsehead, Ashbox, and Orme are characterized by their local institutions, including St Pauls Ch and several small rural schools. A dedicated Cedar Point (U S Navy) road and the U S Naval Reservation reflect the significant military and government footprint in this region during the mid-1940s.