1949 Map of Havelock

About this map

U S Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point dominates the landscape of eastern Craven County just after the war, showing the intensive infrastructure of the base alongside the U S Naval Reservation. The region is defined by the sweeping southern bank of the Neuse River, where tidal creeks like Slocum Creek and Tucker Creek carve into the low-lying terrain. The Atlantic and East Carolina railroad provides a vital transportation spine, connecting the small settlements of Riverdale, Croatan, and Pine Grove with the growing hub at Havelock. Much of the area remains protected within the Croatan National Forest, punctuated by markers of human activity such as the Croatan Lookout Tower and old routes like the Tram Road. This survey documents a pivotal moment as military expansion and the railroad transformed rural coastal North Carolina.