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1914 Map of Wicomico

Name: 1914 Topographic Map of Wicomico
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1914
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1914

About this map

The Wicomico River carves a deep tidal indentation into the Southern Maryland landscape, serving as a central artery for transportation before modern highway dominance. This 1914 survey illustrates a region defined by its relationship with the water, where maritime commerce was supported by several prominent landing points including Bushwood Wharf, Lancaster Wharf, and Wilkerson Wharf. These wharves, alongside the Ludlow Ferry, highlight a period when river traffic was essential for connecting agrarian settlements like Allen's Fresh and Chaptico to regional markets.

Inland, the arrival of the Philadelphia Washington and Baltimore RR and the Washington Potomac and Chesapeake RR shows the shifting transition from water to rail. The map captures the established rural character of Charles and St. Marys counties, noting small crossroads and community hubs like Charlotte Hall, Morgantown, and Newburg. The distinct drainage patterns of Allen's Fresh Run and Chaptico Creek further illustrate the terrain that dictated the layout of 19th-century roads and property boundaries.