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1889 Map of Fredericksburg

Name: 1889 Topographic Map of Fredericksburg
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1889
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1889

About this map

Fredericksburg serves as a primary hub on this late 19th-century survey, situated where the Richmond Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad meets the navigable Rappahannock River. The map captures a transition in Virginia’s Tidewater region, showing the density of landings and riverfront commerce before modern highway development changed the local economy. Notable educational and religious landmarks like the Rappahannock Academy and Grace Church appear alongside remote commerce points such as Parkers Store and Nines Store.

Across the river in Charles County, Maryland, the terrain is defined by the broad Potomac River and its major tributaries like Nanjemoy Creek. The survey identifies numerous family-named points and landings, including Saunders Wharf and Brents Point, which provided critical water access for rural plantations and farms. In Caroline County, the seat at Bowling Green anchors the southern portion of the sheet, connected to the river network by early inland roads.