1893 Map of Great Egg Harbor

About this map

Mays Landing sits at the head of the Great Egg Harbor River, serving as a critical navigation point where the river transitions from a narrow waterway into the expansive marshes of the coast. The landscape is defined by an intricate network of tidal thorofares and creeks, such as Patcong Creek and English Creek, which supported numerous small maritime landings like Scull Landing and Jeffries Landing. Along the coast, the early development of Ocean City and South Atlantic City is visible, linked to the mainland by the West Jersey Railroad. A Fish Factory and several Life Saving Stations highlight the era's reliance on coastal industries and maritime safety. The inland terrain is characterized by dispersed settlements such as Bargaintown and Steelmansville, connected by a web of wagon roads and the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, illustrating the late nineteenth-century transition from river-based transit to rail-dominated commerce.