Loading map...

1942 Map of New Bedford

Name: 1942 Topographic Map of New Bedford
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1942
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1942

About this map

The coastal landscapes of Southeastern Massachusetts are captured here during the mobilization of the early 1940s, anchored by the massive presence of Camp Edwards near Bourne. The maritime character of the region is defined by a network of navigational aids, including Duxbury Pier Light in the north and Nobska Point Light at the southern tip. Inland, the map reveals a mosaic of freshwater resources such as the Billington Sea and Long Pond, alongside the industrial and agricultural heritage of settlements like Paper Mill Village and Tihonet.

Resource extraction and transportation infrastructure are prominent, with the Logging Swamp near North Rochester and the extensive rail lines of the N Y N H and H R R connecting industrial centers. Coastal defense and local history are marked by Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven, while the steamship and steamer ferry routes across Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound illustrate the critical waterborne links between mainland ports and the islands during this era.