1938 Map of Upper Marlboro

About this map

Upper Marlboro serves as the focal point of this late 1930s landscape, illustrating the transition from rural agricultural land to early suburban development in Prince George's County. The infrastructure is defined by a mix of active and defunct transportation routes, most notably the Pennsylvania Railroad and its Popes Creek Branch, alongside the Chesapeake Beach Railway (Abandoned). This survey captures the region just before the post-war expansion of the Washington metropolitan area, showing scattered settlements such as Meadows, Forestville, and Seabrook amidst a dense network of drainage branches like Beaverdam Branch and Western Branch. Local social structures are clearly visible through the placement of rural institutions, including Holy Trinity Ch and the Collington Sch. The map provides a detailed view of several election districts, such as Queen Anne and Mellwood, preserving the administrative and community boundaries of a Maryland county seat at a pivotal moment in its growth.