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1953 Map of Norfolk

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Norfolk
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

The vast wetlands of the Dismal Swamp dominate the borderlands between Virginia and North Carolina in this mid-century survey. Centered on Lake Drummond, this wilderness is flanked by the growing urban centers of Norfolk and Portsmouth to the north and Elizabeth City to the south. The landscape is defined by its waterborne geography, where the James River and Chesapeake Bay meet at Lynnhaven Roads.

Moving inland, the map captures a network of rivers such as the Chowan River and Roanoke River that once dictated the trade and settlement patterns of the Tidewater region. Significant military presence is noted at Camp Pickett Military Reservation and the Fort Story Mil Res, while the rail corridor of the Norfolk and Western and Atlantic Coast Line railroads connects river towns like Edenton, Emporia, and Franklin.