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1968 Map of Exmore

Name: 1968 Topographic Map of Exmore
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

The Penn Central corridor defines the geography of the Eastern Shore in this survey, anchoring a string of small agricultural and commercial hubs from Keller and Painter down through Exmore. This central rail spine provided the vital link for the region's truck farming economy, supported by the Virginia Truck Experimental Station located near Middlesex. While the inland settlements focus on the railroad, the landscape is deeply etched by tidal waterways like Nandua Creek and the Machipongo River, which create a complex network of necks and coves.

Local life is recorded in the numerous country churches and schools that served these rural communities. Places like Willis Wharf and Oakland Park mark the transition toward the marshes of Moreland Swamp and the open waters of Upshur Bay. Genealogists will find interest in the documented sites of Shiloh Ch, Holy Trinity Ch, and the Belle Haven Station, offering a clear view of Northampton and Accomack Counties before modern coastal development altered these traditional patterns of settlement.