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1946 Map of St. Matthews

Name: 1946 Topographic Map of St. Matthews
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1946
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1946

About this map

The town of St. Matthews serves as the hub of this 1940s landscape, where the Southern railroad line cuts through the northeastern corner of Calhoun County. The surrounding area is defined by a network of drainage systems and lowlands, most notably the Caw Caw Swamp and the Edisto River, which forms the southwestern boundary. This era shows a community structured around small crossroads like Staley Crossroads, Hammond Crossroads, and Wertz Crossroads, each acting as a focal point for rural life between the larger centers of St. Matthews and Orangeburg.

Genealogists will find a wealth of specific landmarks, including numerous country schools such as Bethlehem School and St John Sch, alongside several churches like Wesley Chapel and Jones Chapel. The map documents the placement of the West End Cem and Memorial Park Cem, providing critical points of reference for local family histories. The presence of the Atlantic Coast Line railroad further illustrates the transport patterns that shaped the growth of these South Carolina settlements.