1954 Map of New Lake

About this map

New Lake dominates this coastal landscape in the mid-1950s, its shoreline defined by a series of drainage projects including the Old State Canal and Souyars Canal. The terrain is marked by the low-lying reaches of South Fork and Gum Neck, where the Southwest Fork and New Lake Fork meander through marshy ground. Mapping by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey reveals a sparsely populated area where human intervention is primarily seen in the road and canal network. Along the eastern edge of the lake, New Lake Road passes several sets of ruins, suggesting a previous era of activity near the water. The map also delineates the Hyde and Tyrrell County boundary as it cuts across Long Ridge and the Dunbar Canal, illustrating how political lines were surveyed through this wet, coastal forest and swamp environment.