1926 Map of Laurel

About this map

The Patuxent River system, including its Middle and Little branches, defines the central geography of this central Maryland region in the early twentieth century. The map illustrates a landscape transitioning from rural agricultural uses to more complex institutional and military development. Key transport corridors like the Baltimore and Ohio RR and the Washington and Baltimore Electric Ry connect growing hubs such as Savage and Jessup, while the presence of the Fort George G. Meade Military Reservation signals a shift in land use on the eastern edge. Local life is anchored by family-named landmarks and institutions like Christian Brothers College, the Willis School, and the House of Reformation near Rockwell. Numerous bridges, including Snell Bridge and Brock Bridge, facilitate movement across the dissected river valleys that once powered sites like Hicks Mill.