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1948 Map of Topsail

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

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

Camp Davis and its surrounding military infrastructure dominate the northern landscape of this coastal Pender County study, reflecting the area's mobilization during the 1940s. The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad cuts a straight diagonal through the terrain, connecting inland points to the coastal settlements of Holly Ridge and Hampstead. Along the shoreline, the Inland Waterway separates the mainland from the barrier islands, punctuated by dozens of family-named docks and landings like Sears Landing, Bellamy Landing, and Nixon Landing. These features highlight a maritime economy transitioning toward modern coastal development while maintaining deep roots in local geography.

The western portion of the map is defined by the massive Holly Shelter Swamp, a dense wilderness area drained by numerous winding waterways such as Trumpeter Swamp and Thicket Swamp. Coastal landmarks like Sloop Point and New Topsail Inlet provide essential reference points for the shifting sands and inlets of the Atlantic coast. The presence of a CCC Camp and a Firing Range further illustrates the intersection of federal conservation work and military operations in this rural North Carolina landscape.