1956 Map of La Plata

About this map

La Plata and Waldorf anchor this 1956 mid-century survey of Charles County, with purple overprints from 1974 showing the rapid suburban expansion of St Charles and the surrounding area. The landscape is defined by the winding course of the Zekiah Swamp Run and Port Tobacco Swamp Creek, which contrast with the straightened industrial presence of the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Crain Highway. Significant land use is marked by the expansive U.S. Military Reservation Army Radio Receiving Station in the center of the sheet. Genealogists will find many family and local landmarks, including the Mt Rest Cem, Sacred Heart Cem, and Piney Ch. The map captures a moment when rural junctions like White Plains and Springhill were beginning to transition from quiet rail stops into modern residential corridors.