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1944 Map of Preston

Name: 1944 Topographic Map of Preston
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

The Choptank River dominates this mid-century view of the Maryland Eastern Shore, where three counties—Talbot, Caroline, and Dorchester—converge along the winding tidewaters. Inland, the town of Preston serves as a hub for the surrounding agricultural landscape, connected to neighboring settlements like Linchester and Ellwood by the Baltimore and Eastern railroad. The map records a transition in local transportation, noting an Old Railroad Grade north of Bethlehem, reflecting the shifting rail patterns of the era.

Local life is anchored by community landmarks such as Mt Zoar Ch, Johns Ch, and the Church Campground near the Dorchester County line. Along the riverbanks, points of maritime and historical interest like Wright Wharf, Bow Knee Point, and the landing at Choptank illustrate the region's enduring relationship with the water. From the wooded stretches of Frazier Neck to the small crossroads at Waddells Corner, the sheet preserves the detailed geography of rural Maryland during the 1940s.