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1955 Map of Millsboro

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

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

Millsboro and Dagsboro anchor this mid-century portrait of Sussex County, where the Pennsylvania railroad and the Dupont Highway slice through a landscape defined by intricate drainage networks. The headwaters of the Indian River are fed by numerous family-named and functional waterways like Betts Pond and Waples Pond, while the southern reaches transition into the dense Burnt Swamp. This environment dictated a settlement pattern of small, dispersed communities such as Phillips Hill, Mission, and Shaft Ox Corner.

Local landmarks including the State Training School and Old Field Ch provide clear points of reference for genealogical research. The mapping of Old Landing and Possum Pt along the river highlights the area's maritime connections, while inland features like the Lookout Tower and a Drive-in Theater near Dagsboro reflect the era's infrastructure and social life. The heavy concentration of ditching, from Horse Ditch to Houston-Thorogood Ditch, reveals the intensive effort required to manage the coastal plain for agriculture.