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1954 Map of Lake Drummond NW

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Lake Drummond NW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1967
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1967

About this map

The Dismal Swamp dominates this landscape, showing the complex network of man-made waterways used to manage this terrain during the mid-20th century. Surveyed through a combination of 1940 planetable methods and 1953 aerial photography, the map highlights the geometric precision of the Washington Ditch, Jericho Ditch, and Portsmouth Ditch as they cut through the dense environment. These features represent a long history of drainage and transportation efforts in the region, including the Intracoastal Waterway running along the eastern boundary.

Industrial infrastructure is concentrated in the northern portion of the quadrangle where the Norfolk and Western railroad corridor passes through. The map also delineates the boundary between Nansemond Co and Norfolk Co, providing a clear record of local jurisdictional lines before major regional consolidations. This survey is primarily a study of hydrological engineering and the persistence of the wilderness between growing coastal Virginia hubs.