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1926 Map of Laurel

Name: 1926 Topographic Map of Laurel
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1926
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1926

About this map

The Patuxent River and its numerous branches, including the Middle Patuxent River and Little Patuxent River, anchor this detailed survey of central Maryland. The landscape is a complex network of early automotive and carriage routes like the Old Annapolis Road and the Baltimore and Washington Road, reflecting the region's position as a transit corridor between major cities. Specialized institutions of the era are prominently featured, such as the Christian Brothers College near the Pennsylvania RR and the House of Reformation near Jessup.

Industrial and agricultural foundations are evident at Hicks Mill and the expansive US Experimental Farm south of Beltsville. To the east, the Camp Meade Military Reservation occupies a significant portion of the territory, while the Washington Baltimore and Annapolis Electric RR provides a look at the interurban rail systems that once connected these rural crossroads. From the mills of Savage to the quiet grounds of Montgomery Chapel Cem, the map documents a transition from traditional rural life to 20th-century institutional and military expansion.