1955 Map of Prudence Island

About this map

Prudence Island sits at the heart of Narragansett Bay, a largely rural expanse contrasted by the growing military and residential infrastructure on the eastern shore of the East Passage. The 1955 survey, with updates from the 1970s, captures the mid-century evolution of Aquidneck Island as Middletown and Portsmouth expanded along West Main Road and East Main Road. The map reveals a dense network of local institutions, from the Oliphant Sch and Berkeley Sch to several prominent churches and the St Columbas Cemetery. Significant land use is dedicated to the U S Naval Reservation and industrial transport via the Conrail line. To the west, the newer Newport Bridge connects Jamestown to the mainland, while the northern reaches of Prudence Island remain defined by features like Schoolhouse Swamp and the small settlement of Homestead.