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1951 Map of Durham North

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Durham North
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

Duke University and the surrounding Duke Forest anchor the southwestern landscape of this early 1950s survey, illustrating the academic and institutional growth north of Durham. The terrain is defined by the convergence of the Flat River, Eno River, and Little River into the Neuse River, with Lake Michie serving as a significant northern reservoir. This area reflects a mid-century transition from traditional rural tobacco-belt life to post-war expansion, evidenced by the proximity of the Duke Homestead to newer infrastructure like Watts Hospital and the Radio Towers (WTIK).

Small communities and rural institutions like Bahama, Rougemont, and the Orange Factory are documented alongside numerous country churches, such as Kings Chapel and Mt Tabor Ch. The presence of the State Hospital and State Prison near Butner in the northeast corner highlights the concentration of state facilities in the region during this era. Transportation is dominated by a spiderweb of regional rail, including the Southern Railway and the Norfolk and Western Railway, which linked these outlying settlements to the tobacco manufacturing centers.