Loading map...

1970 Map of Wilmington

Name: 1970 Topographic Map of Wilmington
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

The Cape Fear River and Brunswick River dominate this orthophotomap, framing the industrial and residential development of Wilmington during the 1970s. The aerial imagery highlights the intricate network of tidal flats and islands, such as Eagle Island and Campbell Island, which separate the city from smaller satellite communities like Navassa, Leland, and Belville. This hybrid map style provides an unusual view of the city's growth, showing the densely packed blocks of neighborhoods like Love Grove alongside large-scale infrastructure like the Seaboard Coast Line railroad and the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial moored on the riverbank.

Institutional footprints are clearly visible, from Hoggard High Sch to the expansive Greenlawn Memorial Park (Cemetery). Recreational spaces like Greenfield Park and its accompanying Greenfield Lake provide a sharp contrast to the marshy expanse of Jackeys Creek and Alligator Creek to the west. The map effectively captures a city balanced between its maritime heritage and mid-century suburban expansion.