1911 Map of Wicomico

About this map

The Wicomico River dominates this landscape, serving as the tidal boundary between Charles County and St Marys County. This 1911 revision by R. L. Harrison and J. M. Harris documents the river-and-rail economy of Southern Maryland at a time when the Philadelphia Baltimore and Washington RR terminated at the water's edge in Popes Creek. Maritime commerce is evident in the numerous landings and structures along the shore, including Lancaster Wharf, Bushwood Wharf, and the Laidlow Ferry. Inland, established settlements like Charlotte Hall, Chaptico, and Newmarket follow the high ground between the river and the complex drainage of Zekiah Swamp Run and Chaptico Creek. The presence of small hamlets such as Dentsville, Faulkner, and Mt Victoria illustrates the rural, agricultural character of the region during the early twentieth century.