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1953 Map of Lake Jessamine

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Lake Jessamine
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

The Southern Orlando suburbs and the lakes of south-central Florida are captured here in a period of intense transformation. This 1953 topographic study, with revisions through 1980, shows the expansion of Pine Castle and Edgewood as the region's transportation network began to solidify. The infrastructure shift is evidenced by the prominent Bee Line Parkway and Floridas Toll Road, cutting through a landscape previously defined by its water bodies.

Major landmarks like Big Sand Lake, Lake Jessamine, and Turkey Lake dominate the terrain, providing a look at the natural hydrology before extensive later development. Notable local features include the Oak Ridge Cem, the Drive-in Theater near Sky Lake, and the alignment of the Seaboard Coast Line railroad. From the residential developments of Tangelo Park to the emerging site of Lake Buena Vista, the map documents the transition from citrus groves and open wetlands toward a modern urban corridor.