Created 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.

The 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.

Durham 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.

The 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.

As 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.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Durham
• University of North Carolina
• Major highways and other roads
• Surrounding rural areas
• Hills and valleys indicated by contour lines
• Water bodies and tributaries
• Nearby parks and green spaces

Historical context & cartographic details

• Historical US Geological Survey topographical map of Durham, North Carolina, and surrounding areas
• Created in 1951 and published with a 1964 imprint
• Produced at a scale of 1:62,500
• Made by the US Geological Survey, a U.S. government scientific agency that studies landscapes, natural resources, and natural hazards
• Uses green topographical shading to convey the region’s lush landscape
• Features contour lines showing elevation changes, hills, and valleys
• Roads are depicted in red, providing clear route information and emphasizing urban development
• Shows the urban and rural development of Durham and its surroundings during the early 1950s
• Highlights changes in land use and urbanization since publication

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.