1944 Map of Solomons Island

About this map

Patuxent River Air Test Center and the U S Naval Reservation dominate the southern and central shoreline where the Patuxent River meets the Chesapeake Bay. This 1944 survey, with revisions into the mid-1970s, documents the strategic military footprint in St. Mary's and Calvert Counties during a period of rapid mid-century expansion. The map details the intricate shoreline of the lower Patuxent, featuring numerous coves such as Hellen Creek, Back Creek, and Mill Creek that shaped the maritime character of settlements like Solomons and Johnstown. Landward, the growth of Lexington Park and the smaller community of Jonestown contrast with the rural crossroads of Appeal and Newtown. Of particular interest to local historians are the locations of the Olive Sch and various family-named landmarks like Jarboesville Run and Hilton Run, which provide a clear picture of the area's development before modern suburban sprawl.