1985 Map of Cape Hatteras

About this map

The barrier islands of the Outer Banks are meticulously charted here, documenting the thin ribbon of land separating the Atlantic Ocean from the expansive Pamlico Sound. This mid-1980s data shows the fragile topography of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore as it existed before decades of more recent storm-driven shifts. The map highlights the concentration of coastal life at the elbow of the coast, specifically around Buxton and the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (Aband), which is marked as abandoned during this period. The survey captures the transit network essential to the islands, including the Ferry route across Hatteras Inlet connecting Hatteras to Ocracoke. From the scattered hammocks like Quork Hammock to the aviation footprint at Ocracoke Island Airport, the map serves as a vital record of these shifting sands and the communities that inhabit them, including Avon and Frisco.