1981 Map of Savage

About this map

The developing planned community of Columbia stands out as a sprawling network of suburban cul-de-sacs and commercial centers in this 1981 orthophotoquad. This aerial perspective, captured via color infrared photography, reveals the rapid transformation of the Howard County landscape from rural farmland to a major residential and industrial hub. The image clearly traces the paths of the Little Patuxent River and Middle Patuxent River as they wind through the burgeoning town, providing a sharp contrast between the organic curves of the waterways and the engineered grids of new development. To the east and south, the older settlements of Waterloo, Jessup, and Savage appear amidst a mix of wooded areas and large-scale industrial sites, linked by the prominent corridor of the Baltimore Washington Parkway. The map also captures a small portion of the Patapsco River in the northeastern corner, marking the regional boundary.