1949 Map of Jacksonville Heights

About this map

Military aviation infrastructure dominates the northern Florida landscape in the years following World War II, as seen in the expansive Reservation Boundary of the Cecil Naval Auxiliary Air Station. To the south, the distinctive circular runway pattern of Branan Outlying Air Field reflects the tactical training requirements of the era. The terrain is defined by low-lying wetlands and complex drainage systems, with Sal Taylor Creek and Ortega Creek winding through the sandy flats toward Doctors Lake. Small rural clusters like Jacksonville Heights and Federal Hill are connected by a network of unimproved roads and the Atlantic Coast Line railroad. This map captures a moment of transition where traditional piney-woods settlements were increasingly integrated into the growing defense footprint of the Jacksonville region.