1949 Map of South River

About this map

South River and the isolated settlement of Lukens characterize this coastal landscape where the Neuse River meets the intricate brackish waterways of eastern North Carolina. Mapped from late 1940s surveys and updated in the early 1980s, the terrain is dominated by the Open Grounds, a vast expanse of wetland and forest cut by numerous guts and creeks such as Elisha Cr and Miry Gut. The presence of the Landing Field and the Turnpike Road suggest early modernization and access into this maritime environment. Coastal navigation is anchored by the South River Light at Horton Point, guarding the entrance to Horton Bay. The drainage pattern, with features like Rich Island Gut and Doe Cr, illustrates the low-lying, hydrologically complex nature of the Carteret and Craven county line.