1980 Map of Cape Fear

About this map

Cape Fear stands at the southernmost tip of Smith Island in this 1980 color infrared orthophotoquad. The imagery reveals the complex relationship between the land and the Atlantic Ocean, where shifting shoals and coastal drainage patterns are clearly visible. The prominent rise of Bald Head and the winding course of Cape Creek demonstrate the island's natural coastal geography before late-century development. This specialized infrared photography, prepared by the State of North Carolina and federal agencies, highlights the vegetation and marsh structures that define this fragile maritime environment.