1968 Map of Tangier Island

About this map

Tangier Island and its isolated community of Tangier appear here in a period before significant coastal erosion altered the local geography. The map provides a detailed view of the town's dense cluster of homes and several Cem sites, highlighting the unique settlement pattern along Main Ridge, Canton Ridge, and West Ridge. These elevated strips of land provided the only viable ground for development amidst a landscape dominated by Tidal Flat areas and narrow waterways like Oyster Creek Gut and Toms Gut. Navigational features such as the Mailboat Harbor and the North Channel reveal the island's total reliance on the surrounding Chesapeake Bay and Tangier Sound for commerce and transportation. To the east, the uninhabited Watts Island stands as a lonely landmark in the Pocomoke Sound, separated from the main island by deep water channels.