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1946 Map of Chapel Hill

Name: 1946 Topographic Map of Chapel Hill
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

The town of Chapel Hill and neighboring Carrboro serve as the focal point of this mid-century survey, which reveals a landscape of university expansion and rural transitions. The map detail highlights the development around Tenney Circle and Davie Circle, while the Southern railroad line snakes through the region, connecting smaller outlying settlements like Blackwood and Calvander. To the west, University Lake anchors the drainage basin for Morgan Creek, while the presence of Horace Williams Airport underscores the area's modernization.

Genealogists and local historians can trace family origins through numerous rural landmarks, including the Cheek Cem and Tilley Cem. The terrain is characterized by prominent peaks such as Blackwood Mtn and Iron Mine Hill, which separate the agricultural and institutional lands. Cultural centers like Mt Moriah Ch and Union Grove Ch are plotted alongside community schools like Morris Grove Sch, documenting the social fabric of Orange County before the major suburban sprawl of the late 20th century.