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1946 Map of Wilmington

Name: 1946 Topographic Map of Wilmington
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1950
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1950

About this map

Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Camden anchor this comprehensive post-war look at the Mid-Atlantic’s industrial and maritime heart. The map details the vital shipping lanes of the Delaware River and Delaware Bay, guarded by historical fortifications like Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island and Fort Mott to the east. Extensive rail networks, including the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines, connect the urban centers to the burgeoning resort communities of Atlantic City, Ocean City, and Wildwood.

The coastal landscape is defined by its complex waterway system, from the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal in the west to the barrier islands of Long Beach and Brigantine Island on the Atlantic Ocean. Navigational markers such as the Elbow of Cross Ledge Lighthouse and Miah Maull Shoal Lighthouse emphasize the bay's importance for commerce. Inland, the map captures established agricultural and manufacturing hubs like Vineland, Bridgeton, and Millville, providing a clear view of the region's mid-century infrastructure and settlement patterns.