1905 Map of Owensville

About this map

The Patuxent River and the complex tidal inlets of the Chesapeake Bay define this turn-of-the-century coastal landscape in Anne Arundel and Prince Georges Counties. This era is marked by a maritime economy centered on commercial landings and wharves, such as Hartges Wharf, Murrays Wharf, and Contees Wharf, which served as vital transit points for tobacco and goods before the full dominance of modern highways. Inland, the map reveals a network of rural post offices and hamlets including Mt Zion Lothian PO and Butlers Harwood PO, alongside family-named landmarks like McKendree and Darnall. Rail infrastructure is well-established, with the Chesapeake Beach RR and Baltimore and Potomac RR carving paths through the rolling terrain. The transition from tidal marshes at Selby Bay to the structured utilities of the Annapolis Waterworks illustrates the regional development of Maryland's tidewater country during this period.