Loading map...

1918 Map of Orange Park

Name: 1918 Topographic Map of Orange Park
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1942
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1942

About this map

The St Johns River dominates this landscape, serving as the primary artery for settlement along the Florida coast. During the early twentieth century, the riverbanks were dotted with small landings and communities like Hibernia and Switzerland, where residents relied on the water for transport and trade. Inland, the arrival of the Atlantic Coast Line railroad shifted the economic focus toward the interior, fueling the development of towns like Orange Park and Yukon.

Genealogists and local historians will find significant detail in the placement of rural institutions, such as the Swimming Pen School and Bethel Church. The map captures a transitional moment when older riverfront sites like Neals Dock existed alongside developing rail-side hubs. Evidence of early overland travel remains visible through markers like Whites Ford and the Old Kings Road, tracing the paths that connected isolated settlements like Mandarin and Durbin P.O. before the modern highway system was established.