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1950 Map of Portsmouth

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Portsmouth
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

The maritime village of Portsmouth anchors this 1950 survey, which captures the complex island and inlet geography where Pamlico Sound meets the Atlantic Ocean. Situated on the northern tip of Portsmouth Island, the settlement is documented with specific landmarks including a Cupola and Spire, alongside the natural harbor formed by Casey Bay and the Baymarsh Thorofare. The map records a landscape in transition, with a ferry route crossing the sound and a telephone line stretching down the narrow barrier island.

Dynamic coastal features like Ocracoke Inlet and the shifting shoals of Vera Cruz Shoal define the navigable waters. The geography is further detailed by small outlying landmasses such as Shell Castle, Beacon Island, and North Rock. This mid-century record predates significant modern alterations, showing the established bounds of both the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Cape Lookout National Seashore at their point of intersection near Ocracoke.