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1944 Map of Quonochontaug

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

USGS Topo · Published 1944

About this map

Burlingame Reservation and the Woody Hill State Reservation anchor the inland landscape of this mid-century coastal survey. The territory is defined by its massive salt ponds, where Ninigret Pond and Quonochontaug Pond are protected from the open waters of Block Island Sound by narrow, sandy barrier beaches. These coastal features shaped the development of early summer colonies and settlements such as Shelter Harbor and the village of Quonochontaug.

Transportation patterns reflect the area's transition to a coastal retreat, with the Post Road and Shore Road providing the primary arteries through the hills of Westerly and Charlestown. Detailed shoreline features like Foster Cove and Charlestown Inlet highlight the complex geography of the Rhode Island coast before modern development further altered the littoral landscape. Researchers will find the map captures a specific moment when these quiet coastal reaches were beginning to see more structured recreational use and settlement growth.