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1944 Map of Petersburg

Name: 1944 Topographic Map of Petersburg
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1944
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1944

About this map

The Appomattox River serves as the focal point for this wartime survey, anchoring the industrial and civic center of Petersburg and its surrounding communities. The map captures the city during the 1940s, highlighting the dense rail network formed by the Norfolk and Western, Seaboard Coast Line, and Atlantic Coast Line. Beyond the urban core, the landscape is defined by its deep historical scars, specifically at The Crater and the broader Petersburg National Military Park.

Rural Dinwiddie County reveals a network of social and spiritual centers like St Johns Church, Smith Grove Church, and the Robert E Lee School. Notable institutional landmarks include the expansive grounds of Central State Hospital and Virginia State College in Ettrick. The inclusion of the Battersea Canal and numerous mill ponds like Steers Mill Pond illustrates the long-standing reliance on the local waterways for power and transport.