1956 Map of Gibsonton

About this map

Mac Dill Air Force Base occupies the western peninsula in this mid-century survey, its expansive airfield and hospital facilities overlooking the waters of Hillsborough Bay. Across the bay to the east, the shoreline is defined by a series of small coastal communities and industrial sites where the Alafia River meets the coast. The presence of a large Tailings Pond near East Tampa and multiple Fish Hatchery locations inland suggests a diverse local economy balancing phosphate processing and aquaculture. Small settlements like Gibsonton, Gardenville, and Adamsville are connected by the Atlantic Coast Line railroad, which runs parallel to the coast. The coastal wetlands are intricate, featuring named features such as The Kitchen, Whisky Stump Key, and Big Bend, while numerous drainage branches like Bullfrog Creek and Jackson Branch weave through the agricultural and residential plots of North Ruskin.