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1902 Map of Wicomico

Name: 1902 Topographic Map of Wicomico
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1902
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1902

About this map

Wicomico River serves as the central artery for this coastal region where Charles and St. Marys counties meet. The landscape is defined by the deep indentations of Chaptico Bay and the broad reach of the Potomac River to the south. During this era, the waterfront was a hub of commercial activity, evidenced by numerous landings and wharves such as Budd Creek Ldg., Wilkerson Wharf, and Lancaster Wharf. These points of transit supported a maritime economy that predated the dominance of modern highways.

Inland, the transit network is anchored by the Philadelphia Washington and Baltimore R. R. and the Southern Maryland R. R.. Small settlements like Charlotte Hall, Newport, and Chaptico are connected by a web of early roads and creek crossings. The topography transitions from the low-lying Zekiah Swamp and Gilbert Swamp to higher ground marked by prominent points like Lower Cedar Pt. and Swan Pt., illustrating the tidal nature of the Chesapeake watershed.