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1938 Map of Drewrys Bluff

Name: 1938 Topographic Map of Drewrys Bluff
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1938
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1938

About this map

The James River south of Richmond is dominated by an extensive network of defensive Breastworks and fortifications in this late 1930s landscape. Strategic high points like Drewrys Bluff and Fort Darling overlook the river's bend, while the eastern bank is lined with sites including Fort Alexander, Fort Gilmer, and Fort Hoke. This survey reveals the transition between military history and modern industry, specifically noting the large Cellophane-Rayon Factory near the riverbank.

Residential growth is evident in small communities such as Bensley Village, Melrose, and South Hampton, often linked by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and the Seaboard Air Line Railway. Local life centers around rural institutions like Ebenezer Ch, Kingsland Sch, and family-named crossings such as Kingsland Crossing. The terrain is deeply incised by Falling Creek and Kingsland Creek, creating a complex topography that defined both the 19th-century defenses and the 20th-century road network.