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1951 Map of Squibnocket

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Squibnocket
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

The Gay Head peninsula and western reaches of Chilmark define this coastal landscape at the start of the 1950s. The map captures the distinct settlement patterns of the era, from the fishing village of Menemsha near its namesake Menemsha Inlet to the scattered farms and homes along North Road and Middle Road. Maritime history is anchored by the Gay Head Lighthouse and the Gay Head Coast Guard Station, overlooking the steep drop of the Gay Head Cliffs.

Coastal geography is characterized by a series of brackish and freshwater bodies, including the large Menemsha Pond and Squibnocket Pond, separated from the Atlantic Ocean by thin barrier beaches like Long Beach. To the south, an inset details Nomans Land, which includes a Landing Field and is marked as a Restricted Area. These details offer a precise record of the island's topography and land use before mid-century modern development intensified.