Loading map...

1954 Map of Lake Drummond

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Lake Drummond
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

Lake Drummond dominates this mid-century landscape, surrounded by the dense marshlands of the Dismal Swamp at the border of Virginia and North Carolina. The map illustrates a complex network of man-made hydrology designed to navigate and drain this unique environment, including the Jericho Ditch, Portsmouth Ditch, and the prominent Feeder Ditch which connects the central lake to the eastern transit corridors. Along the eastern edge, the Intracoastal Waterway follows the route of the Dismal Swamp Canal, a vital artery for regional commerce and travel.

Small settlements and outposts like Wallaceton, Arbuckle Landing, and Jacks Camp provide evidence of human presence within the swamp's periphery. The inclusion of the George Washington Canal reflects the long history of engineering efforts in this region. This 1954 survey, updated from earlier 1940s planetable work, captures the area before modern conservation and drainage changes altered the footprint of the swamp's interior trails and landings.