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1949 Map of Gunpowder Neck

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Gunpowder Neck
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

Aberdeen Proving Ground dominates this landscape along the Chesapeake Bay, illustrating the massive mid-century military footprint in Harford County. The map details a complex coastal geography where the Gunpowder River and Bush River meet the bay, surrounding the extensive Military Reservation. This high-security zone encompasses numerous points and islands, including Carroll Island, Graces Quarters, and the isolated Pooles Island, which features a lighthouse and several towers.

Outside the reservation, the civilian shoreline at Miami Beach and Seneca Park contrasts with the infrastructure of the Penn Central railroad. This line served local commuters at Chase Station and Harewood Station near Gunpowder State Park. The map documents a period when these bayfront communities were established alongside heavy military activity, preserving details of early residential developments like Harewood Park and various ruins along the Gunpowder Neck.