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1944 Map of Socrum

Name: 1944 Topographic Map of Socrum
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1944
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1944

About this map

Socrum and its neighboring communities are depicted here during the height of World War II, a period when the Florida interior remained dominated by citrus groves, cypress swamps, and a network of blackwater streams. The landscape is defined by the convergence of Pasco, Hillsborough, and Polk counties, with early infrastructure such as the Atlantic Coast Line railroad and Rock Ridge Road providing the primary transit corridors through the marshy terrain. Significant local landmarks like Bethel Church and the settlement of Millard appear alongside the headwaters of the Hillsborough River.

Insight into the era’s land use is evident in the detailed mapping of wetlands surrounding Blackwater Creek and Itchepackesassa Creek, where the dense vegetation meets the managed groves. This survey was compiled from 1942 aerial photography, capturing the precise rural character of Kathleen and the surrounding precincts before post-war development permanently altered the central Florida wetlands.