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1948 Map of Irmo

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Irmo
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1948
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

The Columbia Newberry and Laurens railroad cuts a diagonal path through the landscape of the mid-1940s, connecting the village of Irmo and the settlement at Ballentine. This era represents a significant period of institutional development for the local African American community, anchored by the Harbison Institute and the Rosenwald Sch located near Grange Hall. These sites reflect the region's educational history before major suburban expansion transformed the area.

Water and industry define the western and southern reaches of the map, where the Dreher Shoals Dam holds back the massive expanse of Lake Murray. Downstream, the Saluda River snakes eastward, flanked by several rural schools like Midway Sch and Sweet Gum Sch. The presence of the Ballentine Fire Tower and the sprawling Harbison State Forest highlights the managed timberlands that characterized the rural character of the Richland and Lexington county line during this time.