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1955 Map of Laurel

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Laurel
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1983
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1983

About this map

The town of Laurel serves as the central hub of this Sussex County landscape, where the Conrail line intersects with a sophisticated network of millponds and ditches. The geography is defined by the flow of Broad Creek, which feeds into Records Pond at the heart of the settlement. Beyond the town center, the map documents a transition toward rural agricultural life and religious gathering points, including the historic Old Christ Ch and Delmarva Camp.

Water management is a primary feature of the era, with an extensive system of man-made waterways like Black Savannah Ditch and Tuckahoe Ditch draining the lowlands to support local farming. To the west, the village of Bethel and the crossing at Shell Bridge reflect the area’s longstanding maritime and river-based connections. Evidence of mid-century infrastructure is visible at the Laurel Airport and the Radio Sta (WSUX) near Easter Hill.