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1985 Map of Norfolk

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Norfolk
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1989
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1989

About this map

The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge dominates the southern landscape of this 1980s coastal survey, centering on the perfectly circular Lake Drummond. This vast wetland interior contrasts sharply with the dense industrial and military infrastructure of Norfolk and Portsmouth to the northeast. The map documents a critical maritime intersection where the Elizabeth River meets Lynnhaven Roads, supporting a massive military presence at the U.S. Naval Station and the U.S. Naval Amphibious Base.

Tracing westward, the terrain shifts into the agricultural and timbered lands surrounding Suffolk and Franklin. The transportation network is defined by legacy routes like the Southern Branch Canal and the intersecting lines of the Norfolk and Western RR and Seaboard System RR. In the rural corners of Southampton and Isle of Wight counties, smaller communities like Doles Crossroads, Zuni, and Berlin persist as crossroads landmarks within a complex web of river systems including the Blackwater River and Nansemond River.