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1959 Map of Kiawah Island

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Kiawah Island
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

Kiawah Island is depicted here during a period of minimal development, long before it became the resort community known today. The landscape is defined by the winding course of the Kiawah River and its numerous tidal tributaries, including Haulover Cr and Cinder Creek. A single primary artery, Kiawah Island Drive, runs along the southern coast, providing access to the shoreline overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Detailed hydrographic data from the late 1950s highlights the shifting nature of the South Carolina coast, particularly at Stono Inlet and the expansive Sandy Point. Small named landforms such as Eagle Point and Cinder Point mark the inner marsh edges, while Bird Key sits just offshore. This survey captures the island's transition from a quiet coastal outpost to a more accessible geography, preserving the original names of the creeks and flats that shaped its maritime history.