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1941 Map of New Bedford South

Name: 1941 Topographic Map of New Bedford South
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1949
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1949

About this map

The coastal defense installations and residential expansion of the Buzzards Bay shoreline are well-documented in this mid-century survey of Bristol County. At the tip of Clark Pt stands Fort Rodman, while Fort Phoenix guards the eastern approach, reflecting the strategic importance of the New Bedford harbor during the era. The mapping details a landscape of specialized institutions, including the Sol-E-Mar Hospital and the municipal Infirmary, set against a backdrop of established neighborhoods and cemeteries like the expansive Rural Cemetery.

South of the city, the character shifts toward the peninsular settlements of Dartmouth. Narrow necks of land such as Smiths Neck and Slocum Neck are dotted with local landmarks like Smiths Neck Ch and the Cushman Sch. The detailed rendering of Apponagansett Bay and its surrounding corners — from Macomber Corner to Cranberry Bog Corner — provides a clear view of the area's transition from maritime industry to suburban and recreational use before the intensification of modern development.