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1919 Map of Smithfield

Name: 1919 Topographic Map of Smithfield
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1938
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1938

About this map

Pagan Creek and the Nansemond River define this coastal landscape of the Isle of Wight and Nansemond County border, surveyed just as the regional economy relied heavily on tidal waters and railroads. Smithfield serves as a primary hub, surrounded by a network of rural crossroads such as Carrollton and Chuckatuck. The prevalence of landings and wharves, including Godwins Wharf and Trotman Wharf, illustrates the importance of waterborne transport for agricultural goods before highway expansion.

Genealogists will find a detailed distribution of community anchors, from Uzzell Church and Bethel Church to several small schools like the Garner School and Myrtle School. Industrial history is visible in the Tram Road and the numerous millponds, such as Murphy Millpond and Cohoon Pond, which speak to early 20th-century timber and milling operations. The southeastern corner reveals the northern reaches of the Dismal Swamp, where the Atlantic Coast Line and Southern railroads cut through the low-lying terrain.