1973 Map of Southeast Durham

About this map

Durham expands southeastward in the early 1970s, as urban residential grids give way to the emerging institutional landscapes of the Research Triangle Park. The map documents a pivotal era of regional growth, where traditional communities like Bethesda, Oak Grove, and Joyland are increasingly joined by large-scale infrastructure including the Raleigh-Durham Airport and extensive sewage disposal facilities. The natural drainage of Lick Creek and Brier Creek still defines much of the undeveloped woodland, though the presence of the Southern railroad and several cemeteries like Woodlawn Memorial Park indicate long-standing settlement patterns.