1974 Map of Drewrys Bluff

About this map

The James River carves a deep, winding path through this 1974 orthophotoquad, serving as the dominant landscape feature of the Drewrys Bluff area. The aerial photography reveals the dense industrial and residential expansion stretching south from Richmond, contrasting the structured grid of urban development with the natural contours of the river valley. This specific format—a photographic base overlaid with a topographic grid—provides a rare view of the land as it actually appeared in the mid-1970s, before decades of modern suburban infill. From the clearing at Drewrys Bluff to the heavy infrastructure along the riverbanks, the map documents a region in the midst of significant post-war growth.