1952 Map of Browns Inlet

About this map

The Camp Lejeune Military Reservation dominates this coastal landscape, reflecting the heavy military presence in Onslow County during the mid-20th century. This 1952 topographic study, with revisions through the early 1970s, captures the complex shoreline and marshlands where the Intracoastal Waterway cuts behind the barrier islands. Small coastal points such as Still, Eagle, and Brown are identified alongside Cedar, providing specific geographic markers for local family names and small landing sites. The dynamic nature of the Outer Banks is visible through the Shifting Sand Dunes at Bear Inlet, some reaching fifteen feet in elevation. Navigational features like the Banks Channel and Sanders Creek illustrate the maritime routes used by vessels navigating Onslow Bay. The map reveals a balance between the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean and the intricate, tide-influenced backwaters of Browns Inlet.