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1969 Map of Oriole Beach

Name: 1969 Topographic Map of Oriole Beach
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1992
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1992

About this map

Oriole Beach and the eastern edge of Gulf Breeze are the primary settlements shown along the mainland shoreline in the late 1960s. This survey, later updated in the early 1990s, documents the coastal landscape where residential growth meets the preserved stretches of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. The geography is defined by the narrow barrier of Santa Rosa Island, separated from the mainland by the Santa Rosa Sound. Along the barrier beach, Via De Luna serves as the main transportation artery through the dunes.

The map details a marine-focused environment, including the Intracoastal Waterway and various maritime markers like the Light and several water towers. Notable coastal features such as Sharp Point, Range Point, and Big Sabine Point jut into the sound, while the southern side of the island is dominated by the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The presence of extensive sand dunes highlights the natural state of the barrier island before significant modern development altered its profile.