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1947 Map of St James

Name: 1947 Topographic Map of St James
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1947
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1947

About this map

The North Shore of Long Island is captured here in a moment of post-war transition, where established village life meets large-scale institutional presence. Dominating the western edge is the sprawling complex of the Kings Park State Hospital For The Insane, a massive facility that shaped the local economy and geography for decades. To the east, the settlement of St. James appears as a defined grid near Flower Field, while the meandering Nissequogue River and Stony Brook Harbor create a complex coastline of tidal marshes and inlets.

This geography of the 1940s highlights the era's land use, from the residential enclaves of Old Field and Head of the Harbor to the philanthropic grounds of the St Johnland Childrens Home. The coastal interface is particularly detailed, showing the protected waters of Porpoise Channel and the narrow spit of West Meadow Beach, illustrating the natural barriers and maritime access points that defined these Suffolk County communities.