1951 Map of Fairfield

About this map

Fairfield stands at the heart of this coastal Carolina landscape, where the extensive drainage systems of Burrus Canal and several unnamed Canal segments meet the northern reaches of Lake Mattamuskeet. The map illustrates a highly managed environment within the Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge, where agricultural tracts are strictly defined by water control infrastructure. Along the shore of the lake, community life is centered around Star Zion Ch and Bethlehem Ch, while the northern portion of the quadrangle is dominated by the Alligator River and the Intracoastal Waterway. This survey details a transitional era for Hyde County, showing established settlements like Carmur and Jones (C) amidst the vast wetlands of Gum Neck. The presence of the Fairfield Bridge and various Ruins suggest the long-standing human efforts to navigate and inhabit this low-lying territory between the sound and the river.