1948 Map of Salem

About this map

The Delaware River shore defines the industrial and maritime edge of this 1940s landscape, featuring heavy rail infrastructure and riverfront activity. The Pennsylvania Railroad and Reading Seashore Lines form a dense network connecting riverfront hubs like Penns Grove and Deepwater to inland agricultural and milling centers. The interior transitions into a complex system of drainage and water power, evidenced by numerous mills such as Russells Mill, Woods Mills, and Richmanville situated along the winding courses of Oldmans Creek and Raccoon Creek. Settlements like Woodstown and Swedesboro serve as primary inland junctions, while smaller hamlets like Biddles Landing and Slapes Corner speak to the area's rural heritage. This survey, revised during the war years, captures the region at a peak of rail-dependent transport before the post-war shift toward modern highway development.