{"product_id":"old-map-of-portland-maine-by-usgs-1944-south-portland-westbrook-back-cove","title":"Old Map of Portland, Maine by USGS, 1944 – South Portland, Westbrook \u0026 Back Cove","description":"\u003cp\u003ePublished with a 1948 imprint from 1944 survey information, the US Geological Survey’s “Portland West” presents mid-century Portland, Maine, in crisp 1:24,000 topographic detail. The sheet captures a city poised between wartime industry and postwar expansion, with central Portland set amid its peninsulas, coves, tidal rivers, rail lines, and emerging suburban edges. South Portland, Westbrook, Scarborough, and the surrounding shorelands appear as part of a connected coastal landscape shaped by transportation, commerce, and water. The map’s quiet precision gives particular pleasure: roads, railways, schools, parks, wetlands, and shorelines are rendered with the disciplined clarity for which the US Geological Survey became renowned.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe US Geological Survey, established in the late nineteenth century, brought scientific rigor to the mapping of the American landscape, and this Portland sheet reflects that institutional authority. Its conventional contour lines reveal the subtle but consequential terrain of southern Maine: low coastal ground, modest highlands, river valleys, and the uneven rise of developed neighborhoods. Greens and browns distinguish lower and higher ground, while blue waterways and coastal margins articulate the geography of Casco Bay and its approaches. The result is both utilitarian and elegant—a map designed for engineers, planners, soldiers, walkers, and civic officials, yet rich enough today to reward close historical reading.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePortland itself appears as a compact urban center defined by water on several sides, with Back Cove curving north of the city and the Fore River shaping its industrial and maritime southern edge. Deering Oaks Park is visible as a treasured green space near the heart of the city, while streets and rail corridors trace the patterns of commerce and commuting. Across the water, South Portland shows the close relationship between harbor, shoreline, and settlement. The ferry-linked islands and coastal features of Casco Bay hint at the region’s enduring maritime identity, where working waterfronts, residential districts, and recreational shores have long existed in close proximity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWestbrook and Scarborough extend the narrative beyond the city proper, showing Portland’s wider metropolitan geography at a moment when suburban growth was beginning to accelerate. The Presumpscot River winds through the northern and western portions of the area, a historic corridor of mills, transport, and settlement. Major roads, including U.S. Route 1, reveal the automobile’s growing role in reshaping movement along the Maine coast. Railways remain prominent as well, underscoring the transitional character of the 1940s landscape: a region still tied to older industrial networks, yet increasingly oriented toward highways, residential expansion, and the dispersed development patterns of the postwar era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a historical document, “Portland West” is especially evocative because it records the city and its neighboring communities just after World War II, before later decades transformed the waterfront, suburbs, and transportation corridors. Undeveloped tracts, marshes, parks, and open ground stand alongside dense street grids and industrial margins, offering a layered view of land use in mid-century southern Maine. The contours and shorelines remind the viewer that Portland’s history has always been governed by terrain and tide as much as by commerce and architecture. It is a beautifully measured portrait of a coastal city at a pivotal moment, balancing old maritime patterns with the pressures of modern growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCities, towns and places on this map\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePortland\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSouth Portland\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWestbrook\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScarborough\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBack Cove\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePresumpscot River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFore River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeering Oaks Park\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMillcreek Park\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eU.S. Route 1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRailways\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIslands in Casco Bay\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePeaks and highlands\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCoastal features and shorelines\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistorical context \u0026amp; cartographic details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHistorical 1:24,000 topographical map titled \u003cstrong\u003ePortland West\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBased on 1944 mapping, with a 1948 imprint\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduced by the \u003cstrong\u003eUS Geological Survey\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUses clear contour lines to show elevation and terrain\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFeatures greens for lower areas and browns for higher elevations\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncludes shaded relief and water features for a detailed topographic representation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCaptures the area’s post-World War II geography and development\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHighlights mid-20th-century patterns of growth alongside remaining undeveloped regions\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=\"\/es\/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=\"\/es\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eget in touch\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) 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=\"\/es\/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=\"\/es\/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":58802394956160,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58802394988928,"sku":null,"price":202.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58802395021696,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Map","offer_id":58802395054464,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58802395087232,"sku":null,"price":202.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed canvas 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