1968 Map of Ship Shoal Inlet

About this map

Ship Shoal Island and its neighboring barrier landmasses define this coastal stretch of Northampton County, illustrating the dynamic relationship between the Atlantic Ocean and the intricate lagoon systems of Virginia's Eastern Shore. This 1968 field-checked survey reveals a landscape dominated by expansive marsh and tidal flats, where navigable waterways like the Main Ship Channel and Ship Shoal Channel provide passage through the shifting shoals. Geographers and historians can trace the intricate network of tidal drains and creeks, such as Red Drum Drain and Mink Creek, which carve through Godwin Island and Mink Island. The presence of established beaches like Myrtle Island Beach and Smith Island Beach highlights the exposed seaward faces of these islands, while interior features like Mud Hole and Mud Hole Inlet demonstrate the complex hydrology of the back-bay environment.