1943 Map of Gum Swamp

About this map

The Great Pee Dee River dominates this landscape, creating a complex network of wetlands and islands like Byrds Island and Witherspoon Island at the borders of Marlboro, Darlington, and Florence Counties. During the early 1940s, this region remained heavily focused on agriculture and timber, evidenced by a Logging Camp near the riverbanks and a dense concentration of community institutions. The map reveals a social fabric built around small rural centers such as Brownsville and Bristow, where combined sites like St Paul Church & School served local families. Extensive drainage projects are visible through features like the Catfish Canal, which helped manage the low-lying terrain of Pocosin Swamp for local use. Genealogists will find significant detail in the naming of rural schools and churches, from Lower Marlboro High School to the Back Swamp Church & School.