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1953 Map of Rocky Mount

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Rocky Mount
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1984
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1984

About this map

The vast wetlands of eastern North Carolina define this landscape, where the Dismal Swamp and Lake Mattamuskeet dominate the coastal plain. Inland, the map reveals a dense agricultural and transit network centered on regional hubs like Rocky Mount, Greenville, and Goldsboro. This edition highlights the critical role of military installations in the region's mid-century development, specifically Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station.

Navigable waters and rail lines such as the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad connect the interior river towns of Kinston and New Bern to the expansive Pamlico Sound. On the outer edges, the transition from managed timberlands like Hofmann Forest to the wildlife refuges at Pungo National Wildlife Refuge and Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge illustrates the balance between industry and conservation. Smaller settlements like Swan Quarter, Engelhard, and Columbia serve as windows into the coastal life of the era.