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1903 Map of Crisfield

Name: 1903 Topographic Map of Crisfield
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1942
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1942

About this map

The maritime hub of Crisfield serves as the focal point of this coastal survey, where the N. Y. P. and N. R. R. terminates at the water's edge, signaling the town's importance as a transfer point for seafood and freight. Surrounding the main settlement are smaller communities like Lawsonia, Shokertown, and Birdtown, all deeply integrated into the marshy geography of Asbury and Lawsons. The map reveals a complex network of waterways, including the Little Annemessex River and Somers Cove, which support the region's historical reliance on the bay.

Offshore, the map details the fragile geography of the Fox Islands and Smith Island, with landmarks such as Janes Island L.H. and Watkins Pt. providing essential navigation. The Maryland-Virginia boundary line cuts through Tangier Sound and Pocomoke Sound, illustrating the political division of these shared waters. Large sections of the Chesapeake Bay remain marked as incomplete (unsurveyed), reflecting the challenges of mapping this shifting, low-lying environment at the turn of the century.