2019 Map of Saint Clements Island

About this map

Saint Clements Island sits prominently in the waters where the Potomac River meets the Chesapeake bay systems of Saint Clements Bay and Breton Bay. This 2019 survey captures the modern geography of the Potomac’s middle reaches, where the state line divides Maryland's St. Mary's County from Virginia's Westmoreland County. The landscape is characterized by deeply recessed coves and necks, such as Newtown Neck and Machodoc Neck, illustrating a maritime-oriented settlement pattern. Small aviation facilities like Deerfield Airport and Whithall Farm Airport are interspersed among shoreline communities such as Coltons Point and Coles Point. Navigation remains central to the area's identity, evidenced by the presence of Dukeharts Channel and numerous small landings at Port Sunlight Beach and Breton Beach. The map provides a contemporary view of these vulnerable coastal points, including the distinct terrain of Poseys Bluff and the low-lying Cedar Island.