1944 Map of Seminole Hills

About this map

The Intracoastal Waterway cuts through a dense network of wetlands and swamps along the Panhandle coast, during a period of transition before the heavy development of the late 20th century. Surveyed by Lee Morrison and Chas. I. Hudson for the War Department and USGS, this map documents the sparsely populated border between Walton and Bay Counties. Small settlements like Laird, County Line Landing, and the seaside communities of Hollywood Beach and Sunnyside appear as fledgling hubs in a landscape dominated by water and terrain features like Doe Head Swamp, Marshall Swamp, and Powell Lake. The intricate drainage system is evidenced by numerous creeks and branches, including Tenmile Branch, Otter Creek, and Poley Branch, illustrating the area's natural state just after the second World War. For local historians, the placement of Phillips Inlet and the naming of smaller features like Dog Gap offer a precise view of the coastal geography before modern shoreline alterations.