1952 Map of Durbin

About this map

The Florida East Coast Line cuts a sharp diagonal through this northern St. Johns County landscape, serving as the primary corridor for development between the extensive wetlands. The settlements of Durbin and Hilden are situated directly along this rail route, with a Lookout Tower standing as a prominent landmark near the junction of the tracks and early roads. To the east, the Tolomato River and the Intracoastal Waterway define the coastal boundary, while the interior is dominated by vast hydrologic features like Twelve Mile Swamp and Cabbage Swamp. This 1952 survey, with revisions from 1970, illustrates the region's reliance on the railroad and waterway for connectivity before the expansion of modern highway networks. Drainage patterns are clearly marked by Durbin Creek and Sampson Creek, which navigate around elevated features such as Ragged Island and Scrub Ridge.