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1959 Map of Tampa

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Tampa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

Tampa and St Petersburg anchor this mid-century survey, which details the burgeoning Gulf Coast landscape before the era of massive development. The map traces the intricate shoreline from the sponge docks of Tarpon Springs down to the remote reaches of Charlotte Harbor, revealing a coastal network defined by barrier islands like Anna Maria Key and Sanibel Island. The infrastructure of the era is clearly marked, with the Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard Air Line railroads threading through inland citrus and ranching country.

Industrial and military footprints are prominent at Mac Dill AFB and the various ports along Hillsborough Bay. Further south, the map captures the rural character of areas like Bee Ridge and Osprey, where the Myakka River flows toward the coast. This record preserves the location of many smaller settlements and landmarks, including Pass-a-Grille Beach and the isolated maritime community of Boca Grande, providing a clear view of the region's geography before the modern expansion.