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1945 Map of Hilton Head

Name: 1945 Topographic Map of Hilton Head
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1945
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1945

About this map

Hilton Head Island appears here as a quiet maritime landscape just after the war, years before its modern development as a resort destination. The northern end of the island is dotted with community landmarks that serve as vital records for genealogists, including First Africian Ch, St James Ch, and Queen Chapel Ch. These rural congregations, along with Oak Grove Ch, are positioned along a simple network of roads and trails that traverse the maritime forest and marshes.

The physical geography is defined by the deep waters of Port Royal Sound and the winding course of Broad Creek, which nearly bisects the southern portion of the island. Coastal features like Skull Creek and Lawton Cr outline the intricate shoreline. Published by the War Department, this survey utilizes aerial photography from 1941 to provide a clear view of the island's transition from the 1916 topography to its mid-century state.