1972 Map of Fredericksburg

About this map

Fredericksburg and its surrounding landscape appear in sharp photographic detail in this 1972 orthophotomap, which utilizes high-altitude aerial imagery to reveal the development of the region at the start of the decade. The Rappahannock River serves as the central geographic feature, winding through the core of the area and separating the city from the historic settlement of Falmouth to the north. Unlike traditional topographic maps that use symbols and contours, this orthophoto provides a direct visual record of land use, showing the residential expansion in Sylvania Heights and the dense clustering of the downtown riverfront. This perspective allows researchers to see the exact footprint of industrial sites, roadways, and wooded buffers as they existed during a period of significant growth in Stafford County.