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1953 Map of Winston-Salem

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Winston-Salem
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

Winston-Salem serves as the urban anchor for this mid-century survey of the North Carolina and Virginia high country. The landscape is defined by the massive uplift of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Iron Mountains, including notable peaks like Mount Rogers and Grandfather Mtn. Winding through this terrain is the Blue Ridge Parkway, a critical artery of post-war tourism connecting remote mountain communities.

Industrial and agricultural transit is evidenced by the Norfolk and Western Ry and Southern Ry, which skirt the lower elevations near towns like Mount Airy and Elkin. The map also captures the hydrological character of the region, from the headwaters of the New River to the development of Belews Creek Lake and Watauga Lake. Extensive public lands, including the Jefferson National Forest and Hanging Rock State Park, suggest the early prioritization of wilderness preservation in this era.