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1954 Map of Charlotte

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Charlotte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

The city of Charlotte serves as the focal point for this mid-century look at the Piedmont region and the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The industrial and agricultural landscape of the 1950s is defined by a dense network of textile and manufacturing centers, including Kannapolis, Gastonia, and Hickory. Significant military and conservation history is evident at the Charlotte Naval Ammunition Depot and Kings Mountain National Military Park.

Hydrological development is a central theme, as the Catawba River and Yadkin River are harnessed for power and recreation, creating major reservoirs such as Lake Norman, High Rock Lake, and Lake James. The transportation infrastructure of the era is captured through the routes of the Southern and Seaboard railroads, which connected smaller settlements like Lincolnton, Albemarle, and Taylorsville to the growing urban hubs of the North Carolina interior.