1968 Map of Fleets Bay

About this map

The intricate shoreline of the Northern Neck is the defining characteristic of this 1968 study, where the waters of the Chesapeake Bay meet the deeply incised creeks and points of Lancaster County. The town of Kilmarnock serves as a central hub, connected to the maritime commerce of the era via Kilmarnock Wharf on Indian Creek. This coastal landscape is dominated by long peninsulas such as Bluff Point Neck and Antipoison Neck, which separate the tidal reaches of Dividing Creek and Tabbs Creek. Small communities and landings like Ditchley, Byrdton, and Foxwells are dispersed across the interior, often centered around local landmarks such as Bluff Point Ch and Asbury Ch. The inclusion of bathymetric data reveals the complex underwater topography of Fleets Bay, illustrating the navigational challenges and fishing grounds that supported the regional economy before the turn of the century.