1950 Map of Damascus

About this map

Damascus sits at the heart of this post-war landscape, where the rolling heights of the Piedmont divide the waters of the Patuxent River and Great Seneca Creek. The mapping reveals a rural Montgomery County transitioning into the modern era, still defined by crossroads hamlets and the enduring presence of the Baltimore and Ohio RR corridor in the north. This rail line anchors the growing community of Mount Airy, which straddles the county lines near Ridgeville and Parrsville. The interior of the sheet is marked by small agricultural settlements like Claggettsville, Kemptown, and Browningsville, many of which developed along early turnpike routes. In the south, the topography descends toward Little Bennett Creek and the family-named landmarks like Kings Valley, while the eastern portion highlights the winding course of the Patuxent River near Mullinix and the distinctive geological prominence of Annapolis Rock.