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1948 Map of St. Helena Sound

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of St. Helena Sound
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1948
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

St Helena Island and the complex salt marsh estuaries of the Lowcountry dominate this mid-century survey, based on aerial photography from the late 1930s. The landscape is a labyrinth of tidal passages including the Morgan River, Harbor River, and Story River, which carve through the dense marshland separating the major sea islands. On Hunting Island, a lone Tower stands near the coast, serving as a significant navigational landmark for the Atlantic Ocean approach.

The map captures the coastal geometry before extensive modern development, showing the winding course of the South Edisto River as it meets St. Helena Sound. Notable landforms like Ashe Island and Otter Island sit at the confluence of the Ashepoo R and the sound, illustrating the precarious and shifting nature of these barrier island environments. Further north, a segment of Edisto Island is visible, including Big Bay Creek and the termination of route 174 at Bay Pt.