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1943 Map of James Island

Name: 1943 Topographic Map of James Island
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1943
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1943

About this map

Sol Legare Island and the intricate tidal marshes south of Charleston define this 1943 landscape, captured just as World War II-era defense and infrastructure were reshaping the South Carolina coast. The map illustrates a transitional period for James Island, where small settlements like Centerville and Three Trees are connected by a growing network of roads and the James Island Airport. The coastal geography is highly detailed, showing the shifting sands and inlets of the barrier islands, including the prominent Morris Island and its Morris Island Coast Guard Station.

Family history and local heritage are anchored by features such as Payne Chapel and the residential clusters at Secessionville and Riverland. To the south, the development at Folly Beach is clearly visible along the Atlantic Ocean, contrasting with the more isolated reaches of Oak Island and Long Island. The intricate waterway system, from Lighthouse Creek to the broad Stono River, highlights the maritime dependency of the region before modern sprawl reached these marshlands.