1949 Map of Laurel

About this map

The Little Patuxent River and Middle Patuxent River converge near Savage, anchoring a landscape defined by significant mid-century institutional and military footprints. This postwar era is captured just before the massive suburban expansion of the Baltimore-Washington corridor, showing the Beltsville Research Center and the Fort George G Meade Military Reservation as dominant features. Transport and infrastructure are central to the region's character, with the B & O RR and Pennsylvania RR cutting through the terrain, supporting local industry at the Patuxent Portland Station. In addition to the industrial and military presence, the map reveals a dense network of local civic life, featuring numerous country churches like Asbury Ch and educational institutions ranging from the Maryland State Teachers College to the Briarley Military Academy. Notable landmarks such as the Maryland House of Correction and the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge provide a clear view of how land was utilized for state and federal purposes during this period.