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1943 Map of Franktown

Name: 1943 Topographic Map of Franktown
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

The labyrinthine shoreline of Northampton County defines this landscape, where the Chesapeake Bay meets a series of deep tidal inlets. The Pennsylvania railroad line acts as a central spine for the region's inland settlements, connecting hubs like Birdsnest, Machipongo, and Shadyside with the industrial infrastructure at Martins Siding. Along the coastal necks, the map reveals a maritime economy transitioning between traditional wharf-side trade and emerging aviation, evidenced by Kellam Field and the historic Hungar Wharf and Taylor Whf.

Several prominent points and necks, such as Elliotts Neck and Wilsonia Neck, are deeply carved by Nassawadox Creek and Hungar Creek. These waterways provided essential access for the small villages of Silver Beach, Bayford, and Bridgetown. The mapping of Bethel Ch and Hungar Ch serves as a vital record for genealogists tracking the social foundations of these rural bayside communities during the mid-century era.