1955 Map of Kempsville

About this map

Broad Creek and the Elizabeth River Eastern Branch define this landscape as it appeared in the mid-1950s, a period of transition between the traditional rural landscape of Princess Anne Co and the expanding infrastructure of the City of Norfolk. The map reveals a fascinating mix of land uses, from the Glen Rock Airfield and a Speedway (Aban'd) near Thomas Corner to the City of Norfolk Waterworks and the City of Norfolk Welfare Center. Small truck-farming era settlements like Kempsville, Greenwich, and Acredale are interspersed with emerging residential developments such as Eastbrook Park and River Forest Shores. The spiritual and communal life of the region is evident in the many scattered landmarks, including Old Donation Ch, Old St Matthews Ch, and the Rosewood Memorial Cemetery, while the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks and major routes like Virginia Beach Boulevard provide the framework for the area's rapid post-war growth.