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1972 Map of Wellfleet

Name: 1972 Topographic Map of Wellfleet
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

Wellfleet and its surrounding coastal hamlets occupy this 1972 survey, revealing the intricate geography of the Outer Cape before modern development altered much of its rural character. The map details a landscape shaped by glacial kettle ponds like Gull Pond and Higgins Pond, alongside the winding saltwater estuaries of the Herring River and Blackfish Creek. Notable for historians is the inclusion of the Marconi Station Site and the National Seashore Headquarters, marking the region's transition into a protected federal landscape.

Transport and early industry are visible through the route of the Penn Central railroad and family-named landmarks like Lombard Hollow and Mayo Beach. The map preserves the locations of vital community centers such as St James Ch and the South Wellfleet Cem, while the vast tidal flats around Lieutenant Island and Jeremy Pt highlight the maritime environment that has long defined life in Barnstable County.