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1907 Map of Norfolk

Name: 1907 Topographic Map of Norfolk
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1907
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1907

About this map

Norfolk and its surrounding tidal waterways are captured during a pivotal moment of maritime and industrial development. The map features the sprawling grounds of the Jamestown Exposition at Sewall Point, a landmark event that signaled the region's emergence as a strategic naval and commercial hub. The complex geography of the Elizabeth River and its branches—the Western Branch and Southern Branch—reveals a landscape of early urban expansion, including neighborhoods like Port Norfolk and Camden Heights. To the west, the infrastructure of the Navy Yard and the proximity of the Dismal Swamp Canal underscore the importance of inland navigation and naval defense.

Coastal life is detailed through a series of stations along the Atlantic, including the Cape Henry Life Saving Station and Seatack Life Saving Station. The interior of Princess Anne County shows a network of rural settlements such as Kempsville and Pungo, connected by a mix of steam and electric railroads. The presence of the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal further illustrates the era's reliance on integrated water and rail networks to move goods from the Dismal Swamp to the ports at Newport News.