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1944 Map of Edgartown

Name: 1944 Topographic Map of Edgartown
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1944
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1944

About this map

Chappaquiddick Island and the coastal harbors of Martha's Vineyard are captured in detail just before the mid-century, revealing a landscape defined by maritime navigation and nascent aviation. This 1944 edition, based on 1942 surveys, highlights the vital role of the East Chop Lighthouse, Edgartown Lighthouse, and Cape Poge Lighthouse in guiding vessels through Nantucket Sound. The map shows established settlements like Edgartown and Oak Bluffs alongside smaller locales such as Jerneganville and Clevelandtown, reflecting the island's inland development.

Coastal geography is intricately documented, from the salt ponds like Sengekontacket Pond to the sprawling Edgartown Great Pond with its numerous named coves and necks. The presence of both the Oak Bluffs Airport and Edgartown Airport underscores the island's growing accessibility during the war years. Extensive woodland is preserved within the Martha's Vineyard State Forest, while the shoreline at Wasque and Norton Point illustrates the ever-shifting boundary between the island and the Atlantic Ocean.