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1973 Map of Laurel

Name: 1973 Topographic Map of Laurel
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1988
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1988

About this map

The coastal corridor of Sarasota County in the early 1970s is defined by the parallel paths of the Intracoastal Waterway and the Seaboard Coast Line railroad. This survey captures the rapid development of communities like Osprey, Laurel, and Nokomis, where numerous trailer parks and golf courses began to characterize the shoreline landscape. The transition from the dense residential grid at Vamo to the preserved lands of Oscar Scherer State Park along South Creek illustrates the tension between postwar expansion and environmental conservation.

Navigation and hydrology are central to this map, showing the intricate network of Little Sarasota Bay, Dryman Bay, and Blackburn Bay protected by Casey Key. Inland, the massive engineering of Cow Pen Slough and various canals indicate significant drainage projects typical of Florida's mid-century development. Cultural landmarks, such as Nokomis Ch, the Mission Valley Country Club, and several boat ramps, provide specific touchpoints for local historians and genealogists.