Published in 1983 from 1982 source material, the USGS map titled “Jarvisburg” presents a finely observed coastal landscape at the detailed 1:24,000 scale. Centered on the northern Outer Banks and adjacent mainland of North Carolina, it captures Duck, Jarvisburg, Currituck Sound, and the waterways that define this low-lying region. Its orthophoto character gives the map an especially vivid documentary quality: instead of relying solely on conventional linework, it incorporates corrected aerial imagery with topographic information, allowing patterns of shoreline, marsh, woodland, roads, and development to appear with striking clarity. As a historical record of the early 1980s, it preserves a moment when this celebrated stretch of coast was becoming increasingly shaped by recreation, tourism, and waterfront real estate.

The map was produced by the United States Geological Survey, the federal agency whose maps have long been prized for their precision, consistency, and sober visual authority. By the late twentieth century, the USGS was expanding the use of orthophoto techniques, offering a more immediate view of the American landscape than traditional contour-based cartography alone could provide. On “Jarvisburg,” that approach is particularly well suited to the terrain: coastal North Carolina is a place of subtle elevation changes, shifting wetlands, sand ridges, and water-sculpted boundaries. The map’s careful presentation allows viewers to read not only named places and transport routes, but also the delicate environmental structure of barrier islands, sounds, bays, and mainland margins.

Duck, North Carolina, is one of the map’s most compelling focal points. Now known for its refined coastal atmosphere, scenic waterfront, and appeal as a vacation destination, Duck appears here at a formative point in its modern development. The map records the relationship between the settlement and NC Route 12, the slender north-south road that threads through the Outer Banks and links communities such as Southern Shores, Duck, Corolla, and Pine Island. Soundside Road and nearby local routes hint at the growing importance of access, property, and tourism infrastructure. The surrounding landscape remains deeply tied to its natural setting, with the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Currituck Sound stretching broad and sheltered to the west.

The geography shown on “Jarvisburg” is a study in contrasts between oceanfront exposure and soundside calm. Currituck Sound dominates the eastern reaches of the map, its shallow waters forming a protected estuarine environment behind the barrier beaches. To the west, the mainland around Jarvisburg, Grassy Ridge, Westside Road, and Tulls Bay reveals a different coastal texture: low ground, creeks, marshes, and agricultural or rural settlement patterns. The North River and Albemarle Sound place the map within a larger hydrological world, where freshwater, brackish wetlands, and tidal influence intersect. Features such as Grogans Point and Pine Island emphasize the intricate edges of land and water that make this region both ecologically rich and cartographically fascinating.

As a document of landscape change, this 1980s orthophoto map is especially evocative. The northern Outer Banks would see continued growth in the decades following its creation, as vacation homes, resorts, roads, and conservation concerns reshaped the balance between development and fragile coastal systems. Here, however, the viewer encounters an earlier stage of that transformation, when Duck and neighboring communities still sat amid broad expanses of marsh, maritime vegetation, soundfront, and beach. The map’s combination of aerial realism and USGS discipline makes it valuable not only as a navigational or geographic record, but as a historical portrait of a coastline in transition—where natural processes, human ambition, and the enduring allure of the Atlantic shore meet.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Duck, NC
• Jarvisburg, NC
• Currituck Sound
• North River
• Southern Shores, NC
• Grassy Ridge
• Corolla, NC
• Currituck County
• Albemarle Sound
• Atlantic Ocean
• Soundside Road
• NC Route 12
• Grogans Point
• Westside Road
• Tulls Bay
• Pine Island

Historical context & cartographic details

• Historical 1:24,000 topographical orthophoto map showing Duck, North Carolina and the surrounding area.
• Created in 1982 and published in 1983.
• Produced by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
• Features a clear, detailed orthophoto presentation with colors representing different land uses and topographic features.
• Shows coastal landform characteristics including marshlands, beaches, and varied low-elevation terrain.
• Captures the area in the early 1980s, documenting land use, development trends, and environmental conditions over time.
• Highlights Duck as a coastal town known for tourism, scenic waterfront areas, recreation, and real estate interest.

Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.

Detailed 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.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.

Every 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.

With 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 rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.