1945 Map of Gadsden Point

About this map

Macdill Field dominates the western peninsula of this mid-1940s survey, illustrating a critical period of coastal military development during the war years. South of the airfield, the U. S. Quarantine Station sits at Gadsden Point, marking a significant public health installation on the edge of Tampa Bay. Across the water to the east, the landscape transitions to small settlements and intricate coastal hydrology. The Alafia River and South Channel define the northern reach near East Tampa and Gibsonton, where the tidal economy is evident in the naming of places like Gardenville Beach and Hog and Hominy Cove. The eastern shore is characterized by numerous small tributaries like Sims Branch and Jackson Branch that feed into the Big Bend area. This document captures the rural and military character of the region before the post-war suburban expansion altered the corridor along Bayshore Road.