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1952 Map of Ship Bottom

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Ship Bottom
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

Long Beach stands as a dense ribbon of coastal development between the Atlantic and Barnegat Bay in this mid-century survey. The barrier island is heavily subdivided, showing the established footprints of Ship Bottom, Surf City, and Harvey Cedars connected by the island's primary north-south thoroughfare. The Manahawkin Bridge provides the vital link from the mainland, crossing Bonnet Island and Bay Side to reach the shore.

Inland, the character of the landscape shifts to the labyrinthine wetlands of the Manahawkin Hunting and Fishing Grounds and the Gunning River. This area is defined by a complex network of coastal ponds, including Arnold Pond and Haywood Oyster Pond, reflecting an era when the saltwater economy and recreational marshland use were central to the identity of Stafford and Union townships. The presence of the Intracoastal Waterway and various sedges, like Sloop Sedge and Harvey Sedges, highlights the maritime navigation essential to these New Jersey waters.