1893 Map of Great Egg Harbor

About this map

Mays Landing serves as a focal point at the head of the Great Egg Harbor River, where the transition from inland pine barrens to the intricate coastal wetlands begins. This late 19th-century survey by C.C. Vermeule documents a maritime landscape defined by tidal thoroughfares, salt marshes, and early coastal expansion. The intricate network of waterways like Patcong Creek and Scull Bay supported a economy of landings and small mills, such as Doughty Mill, while the coastal strip shows the early development of Ocean City and Somers Point. The inland reaches are characterized by family-named settlements like McKeetown and Risleyville, connected by a rapidly growing railroad infrastructure. The inclusion of maritime landmarks like the Fish Factory and Life Saving Station (30) reflects the vital connection between the mainland and the shifting sands of Risley Beach.