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1953 Map of Raleigh

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Raleigh
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

The Fort Bragg Military Reservation dominates the southern landscape of this mid-century survey, anchoring a region defined by its major river systems and burgeoning academic centers. From the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to North Carolina State University in Raleigh, the map illustrates the connectivity of the Research Triangle before the full expansion of the modern interstate system.

Transit corridors like the Southern Railway and Norfolk Southern lines intersect with the Cape Fear River and Neuse River, showing the historical reliance on both rail and water for commerce. To the west, the Uwharrie Mountains and Uwharrie National Forest provide a stark contrast to the growing urban footprints of Durham, Fayetteville, and Asheboro. Smaller settlements such as Fuquay-Varina, Siler City, and Lillington are captured during a period of steady post-war transition.