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1960 Map of Charlotte

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Charlotte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

The Catawba River and Yadkin River basins define the Piedmont landscape of the mid-20th century, a region undergoing significant industrial and residential transformation. The massive footprint of the Charlotte Naval Ammunition Depot and the protected grounds of Kings Mountain National Military Park anchor the southern half of the map, while the northwestern corner rises into the South Mountains and the edge of Pisgah National Forest.

Regional connectivity is dominated by the Southern Railway and the emerging interstate system, including Interstate 85. The map documents the sprawling textile and manufacturing corridor from Gastonia through Charlotte to Kannapolis and Salisbury. Major reservoir systems such as Lake Norman, High Rock Lake, and Lake Tillery illustrate the extensive hydroelectric development that powered the Carolinas' mid-century economic expansion.