1956 Map of Port Elizabeth

About this map

The Maurice River serves as the dominant geographic feature of this mid-century survey, anchoring a string of historic maritime and industrial settlements including Port Elizabeth, Mauricetown, and Leesburg. The landscape is defined by the transition from tidal riverbanks to the dense woodlands of the Belleplain State Forest. The influence of the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Lines is evident as it cuts through the territory, linking small communities like Bricksboro and Dorchester to the broader regional economy. Significant extractive activity is visible through numerous Gravel Pits and Sand and Gravel Pits scattered near Muskee Hill and Halberton. Local waterpower and early industry are marked by sites such as Jones Mill and Hoffmans Mill, while the lowlands near West Creek show specialized land use with a mapped Cranberry Bog. This map captures a moment of established rural infrastructure before modern development patterns altered the character of Cumberland County.