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2013 Map of Kelly

Name: 2013 Topographic Map of Kelly
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2013
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2013

About this map

The Cape Fear River dominates this Bladen County landscape, winding past historical riverfront markers like Locks Point, Grays Point, and Kings Bluff. The settlement pattern follows the high ground and early transportation corridors, with the rural communities of East Arcadia, Kelly, and Sandyfield serving as the primary population centers. The presence of Elwells Ferry highlights the enduring importance of river crossings in this region of North Carolina, while the Mitchell Field Airport marks a modern utility in an otherwise agricultural and swamp-adjacent setting.

Water management is a defining characteristic of the terrain, evidenced by the extensive network of drainage features such as the Lyon Swamp Canal, White Oak Canal, and Salt Marsh Ditch. These man-made channels intersect with natural waterways like Natmore Creek and Colly Cr, reflecting generations of efforts to manage the low-lying wetlands for forestry or farming. Local road names such as Frenches Creek Church Rd and Kennedy Store Rd offer valuable clues for genealogists and local historians tracing the community's social and commercial history.