1980 Map of Ridgeville

About this map

Darien and the coastal lowlands of McIntosh County are captured here in an era defined by a complex network of waterways and marshlands. The landscape is dominated by the massive Buffalo Swamp to the west and the winding course of the Altamaha River to the south. This 1980 orthophotomap provides a rare hybrid view of the region's topography overlaid on aerial imagery, highlighting the distinct boundaries between the cultivated lands around Ridgeville and the expansive Altamaha Waterfowl Management Area. Local history is preserved through the numerous family and community landmarks, including Oglethorpe Academy and Ashantilly. The map details a landscape where life was oriented toward the water, from the Marina near Bradwell Island to the many scattered cemeteries like Hutchinson Cem and King Cem, which serve as markers for long-established coastal families.