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1953 Map of Poinsett State Park

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Poinsett State Park
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

Manchester State Forest and Poinsett State Park dominate this 1950s landscape, where the high ridges of the Sand Hills drop sharply into the dense bottomlands of the Wateree Swamp. The map details a complex hydrologic network including the Wateree River and Little River, alongside numerous oxbow lakes such as Big Lake and Holly Hill Lake. These waterways defined the local economy and settlement patterns, evidenced by the Lumber Camp and the Riverside Hunting Camp near Ramsey Lake.

Cultural landmarks are concentrated on the higher ground to the east, including the Melrose Historical Home and several rural congregations like Saint Augustine Church and Tiverton Church. Connectivity across the swampy terrain was maintained via the Southern Railway and the Atlantic Coast Line, while local transit relied on traditional routes like the Old Starks Ferry Road. This survey documents the area's transition between managed timberlands and preserved parkland during the mid-century.