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1917 Map of Morattico

Name: 1917 Topographic Map of Morattico
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1917
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1917

About this map

The Rappahannock River serves as the central artery for this 1917 survey, where a designated Steamboat Route connects the wharves of Tidewater Virginia to the wider Chesapeake economy. The landscape is defined by the intersection of several counties, including Richmond, Lancaster, and Northumberland, where numerous family-run milling operations such as Gordys Millpond, Moores Mill, and Union Mill sit at the heads of tidal creeks.

Social life in the early 20th century is anchored by rural landmarks like the Marvin Grove Camp and dozens of country schools, including Lonely Oak School and Piedmont School. From the fishing and farming community at Lively to the historic Farnham Church, the map documents a network of small settlements and landings like Morattico and Simonson before the modernization of coastal infrastructure. This survey captures the Northern Neck in an era when river travel and local millponds remained vital to the region's geography.