Loading map...

1948 Map of Mathews

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Mathews
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1948
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

Mathews serves as the focal point of this coastal Virginia peninsula, surrounded by an intricate network of waterways including the Piankitank River, Hills Bay, and the open Chesapeake Bay. In the mid-1940s, the landscape is defined by its maritime orientation, where family-named landmarks like Hicks Wharf and Williams Wharf line the edges of Stutts Creek and Put in Creek. The interior reflects a tightly knit community structure supported by numerous local institutions, including Central High Sch, Lee-Jackson Sch, and the Fair Grounds.

Evidence of established rural life is visible in the distribution of community centers like Tabernacle PO and several small houses of worship such as Christ Ch and Salem Ch. The geography of the Middle Peninsula is clearly delineated, from the northern reach of Gwynn Island to the southern waters of Winter Harbor, showing the era's reliance on both land-based roads and traditional water access points.