1917 Map of Heathsville

About this map

Heathsville and the surrounding peninsulas of the Northern Neck are captured during the First World War in this detailed 1917 survey. The landscape is defined by the complex interlocking shorelines of the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay, where maritime life is evidenced by the Steamboat Route passing through the Great Wicomico River. Many small agricultural and fishing communities are documented here, including Reedville, Fair Port, and Sunnybank, each linked by primitive roads and local landing points. For genealogists, the map provides a valuable census of local institutions, from Afton Church and Macedonia Church to numerous rural schoolhouses like Martha Coopers School and Shiloh School. The land is divided into distinct necks, such as Bay Quarter Neck and Hull Neck, illustrating how the deeply indented tidal creeks shaped the social and economic geography of Northumberland County before the advent of modern highways.