{"product_id":"old-map-of-durham-north-carolina-by-usgs-1951-university-of-north-carolina-piedmont-hills","title":"Old Map of Durham, North Carolina by USGS, 1951 – University of North Carolina \u0026 Piedmont Hills","description":"\u003cp\u003eCreated in 1951 and published with a 1964 imprint, the US Geological Survey’s “Durham South” presents a richly detailed portrait of Durham, North Carolina, and its surrounding Piedmont countryside at a pivotal mid-century moment. Drawn at the practical 1:62,500 scale, it balances regional breadth with local specificity, showing the populated fabric of Durham alongside roads, waterways, rural settlements, wooded areas, and cultivated land. The original title has a pleasing directness, yet the map itself is layered with information: red roads trace the connective arteries of the area, green tones suggest the lush Carolina landscape, and fine contour lines reveal the hills and valleys that shape movement, settlement, and development.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe map bears the authority of the US Geological Survey, the federal scientific agency founded to study the nation’s terrain, natural resources, and geological character. By the mid-twentieth century, USGS topographic mapping had become indispensable to engineers, planners, conservationists, motorists, and government agencies, offering a standardized visual language for understanding the American landscape. “Durham South” reflects that tradition with disciplined clarity: contours record elevation, watercourses mark drainage patterns, and roads are differentiated with crisp red emphasis. Unlike decorative cartography of earlier centuries, its elegance lies in precision—the restrained palette, systematic symbols, and measured depiction of landforms combine to create a map that is both utilitarian and unexpectedly beautiful.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDurham appears here during an era of transformation, when its older identity as a tobacco and textile city was beginning to intersect with the educational, medical, and scientific forces that would later define the Research Triangle region. The map captures urban Durham not as an isolated city, but as part of a broader landscape of roads, institutions, open country, and neighboring communities. The presence of the University of North Carolina and the surrounding network of highways and local routes hints at the growing importance of academic corridors and regional mobility. Seen from this perspective, the map is a snapshot of the landscape just before accelerated suburbanization reshaped the relationship between town, campus, and countryside.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe topographic character of the sheet is especially engaging. Durham and its environs occupy the rolling Piedmont, and the terrain is articulated through close, carefully drawn contour lines that reveal ridges, shallow valleys, drainage basins, and gently undulating uplands. Tributaries and water bodies thread through the map, explaining the natural logic behind roads, settlement patterns, and open spaces. Green shading gives the scene a verdant quality, evoking the wooded slopes, fields, and parks that soften the urban edge. This combination of contours, hydrography, and land cover makes the map more than a route guide: it is a compact study of how geology and water shaped human use of the land.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a historical document, “Durham South” offers a compelling view of land use before many of the area’s later highways, subdivisions, and commercial corridors fully emerged. The contrast between red-marked urban development and the surrounding rural landscape makes visible the balance between city and countryside in the early 1950s. Roads radiate outward from Durham into farming districts, green spaces, and smaller communities, suggesting a region still closely tied to local geography. For collectors drawn to places in transition, this map is particularly evocative: it records a familiar North Carolina landscape at an earlier stage, before decades of growth transformed the physical and cultural geography of Durham and its surroundings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCities, towns and places on this map\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDurham\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUniversity of North Carolina\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMajor highways and other roads\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSurrounding rural areas\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHills and valleys indicated by contour lines\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWater bodies and tributaries\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNearby parks and green spaces\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistorical context \u0026amp; cartographic details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHistorical US Geological Survey topographical map of Durham, North Carolina, and surrounding areas\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCreated in 1951 and published with a 1964 imprint\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduced at a scale of 1:62,500\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMade by the US Geological Survey, a U.S. government scientific agency that studies landscapes, natural resources, and natural hazards\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUses green topographical shading to convey the region’s lush landscape\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFeatures contour lines showing elevation changes, hills, and valleys\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoads are depicted in red, providing clear route information and emphasizing urban development\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShows the urban and rural development of Durham and its surroundings during the early 1950s\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHighlights changes in land use and urbanization since publication\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLooking for a particular place?\u003c\/strong\u003e Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/de\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eask our workshop to check before you order\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDetailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please \u003ca href=\"\/de\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eget in touch\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/de\/pages\/map-personalisation\"\u003eSee personalised map examples\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEvery piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/de\/collections\/all-old-vintage-antique-maps\"\u003erare old and vintage maps\u003c\/a\u003e to discover another place, period or style.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Unique Maps Co.","offers":[{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58792158232960,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58792158265728,"sku":null,"price":202.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58792158298496,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Map","offer_id":58792158331264,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58792158364032,"sku":null,"price":202.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed canvas 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