1943 Map of Wingate

About this map

Bishops Head and the fishing community of Elliott occupy the low-lying reaches of southern Dorchester County, where the Chesapeake's reach is felt through a complex network of marshes and tidal guts. This 1943 survey, compiled from air photographs, details a landscape dominated by the Great Marsh and the Straits Marsh, where human settlement is confined to higher ground along roads like Lakes No 5 Straits No 10. In the northern interior, the Beech Ground Swamp and Raccoon Creek Marsh give way to the winding course of the Blackwater River. Significant local landmarks include St Thomas church and the Wingate PO, reflecting the importance of established crossroads for these water-bound communities. The map also documents specific navigational aids and local points of interest such as Wrights Log and the Sugarloaf rise, providing a record of the era's geography before significant coastal erosion or changes in land use occurred.