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1918 Map of Lawtey

Name: 1918 Topographic Map of Lawtey
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1918
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1918

About this map

Bradford Farms (State Prison) occupies a significant portion of this North Florida landscape, marking a period when institutional footprints and agricultural operations began to shape the rural geography near Raiford. The map reveals a dense network of early 20th-century rural infrastructure, characterized by numerous family-named and community-centered schools such as Vanderbilt School, Futch School, and Norman School. Settlement patterns are closely tied to the era's dominant railroads, including the Atlantic Coast Line and Georgia Southern and Florida Railroad, which connect towns like Lawtey and Maxville to the surrounding timber and swamp lands.

The hydrological character of the region is defined by the vast New River Swamp and the winding course of the New River, with several islands like Buck Island rising from the wetlands. Social life in these dispersed communities is anchored by churches such as Woodlawn Church and Evergreen Church, while the presence of Bradford Farms Junction highlights the importance of rail connectivity for the local state-managed agricultural industry.