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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 documented here during the early 1940s, highlighting the strategic and industrial importance of the region as the country entered World War II. The massive extent of Camp Edwards occupies the eastern portion of the sheet, reflecting the wartime mobilization of the era. To the west, the industrial hubs of Middleboro and the outskirts of New Bedford are connected by the dense rail network of the New York New Haven and Hartford RR, which served as the primary artery for both passengers and freight.

Maritime navigation remains central to life on the coast, with landmarks like Duxbury Pier Light, Wings Neck Light, and Fort Phoenix guarding the harbors and the Buzzards Bay approaches. Inland, the map reveals the importance of the great pond systems, including Assawompset Pond and Pocksha Pond, which were critical for local industry and water supply. Smaller settlements like Paper Mill Village and Wenatuxet show the enduring character of earlier colonial-era industrial sites still present on the landscape.