1953 Map of Charlotte

About this map

The Catawba River and its massive impoundments anchor this mid-century portrait of the North Carolina Piedmont, showing the region as its modern industrial and transit identity solidified. Large-scale reservoirs like Lake Norman and High Rock Lake dominate the central corridor, while the urban centers of Charlotte, Gastonia, and Salisbury are shown at a pivotal moment of expansion. The map details the complex transportation network that fueled this growth, including the Southern Railway and the Piedmont and Northern Railway, alongside the emerging interstate highway system.