1944 Map of Kingston

About this map

The Rhode Island State College campus dominates the northeastern landscape of this mid-century survey, just as the local coastal economy begins to transition toward its modern form. Along the shore of Block Island Sound, the twin fishing villages of Jerusalem and Galilee sit on opposite sides of the Breachway, while the bustling centers of Wakefield and Peace Dale show a dense network of residential streets and early industrial sites. Inland, the vast Great Swamp remains largely untamed, preserved by its difficult terrain and marked by the Great Swamp Fight Site. The New York New Haven and Hartford railroad cuts a straight line through this wilderness, connecting West Kingston to the wider region. From the many coastal ponds like Potter Pond to the heights of Tefft Hill, the map captures the distinct character of South Kingstown before extensive post-war suburban development altered the rural and maritime balance.