Historic Maps – US Topographic and Other Maps
After the purchase of the Virgin Islands in 1917, the United States completed topographic surveys. Other publications added to the 20th century mapping of St. Croix.
The images presented on this page are low resolution to ease page loading while providing an understandable representation of each map. Links lead to far higher resolutions of each map.
St. Croix, scale 1:10,000 in 6 topographic sheets
1919-1921 individual sheets are hand dated
US Coast and Geodetic Survey
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The 1919-1921 United States Geological Service topographic maps present highly detailed information about all of St. Croix. This collection of maps presents the entire island in six sheets. Each sheet reflects a separate survey. The presentation scale of 1:10,000 provides the closest examination of the island of any historic map.
Being a topographic map, presentation includes many elements of physical geography. The coastline includes place names and highlights of reefs without any bathymetric detail. On land, however, estimates quantify the depth of many of the salt ponds.
The interior of the island includes both topographic markings plus the height of specific landmarks. For instance, in East End B quarter, mill depictions include the top height at Coakley Bay, Solitude, Cotton Valley, and Cotton Grove.
Ruins identified in many locations correspond with findings in the field. However, different icons between sheets reflect different individuals drawing many of the sheets. The use of different icons can create confusion about what existed at specific locations. Similarly, mills identified on the map represent both windmill ruins that previously crushed sugar cane along with the smaller towers used for pumping water.
One sheet provides a helpful legend to identify the meaning of various icons. The sheet for East End A quarter defines the meaning of various types of windmills. However, use of these icons differs between sheets.
West Indies, Virgin Islands, St. Croix, scale 1:40,000
1923 print dated
US Coast and Geodetic Survey
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This topographic map published by the US Coast and Geodetic Survey came right on the heels of the 1919-1921 detailed survey. The map contains very similar information from the survey, albeit at a much lower resolution of 1:40,000 versus 1:10,000. Like other topographic maps, north lies at the top of the map and the quarter and estate boundaries are not parallel to the edges of the map.
The topographic details present fewer contour lines while still including the elevations of many hill tops. Similarly, this map presents information about structures, roads, and railways in slightly lower resolution. In many cases, identifying windmill ruins presents challenges due to the identical icons depicted for sugar crushing windmill ruins and water towers. On the plus side, the icons do not vary across the island like they do on the survey sheets.
The contents of this map do not appear elsewhere on this site. However, given the date and format of the map, presentation here helps provide a more complete understanding of the mapping of St. Croix.
Map of the Island of St. Croix Virgin Islands, USA, Showing lands of the West Indian Sugar Factory
1923 print dated
Smith & Ames with two depictions at different scales and extent of the island
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This map, published shortly after the 1923 USCGS topographic sheet of all of St. Croix, follows that map closely. The map provides much of the same information, appearing to use the USCGS map as its base.
This map adds information about sugar cultivation at the time. The second sheet of the map provides an inset naming the management units and constituent estates.
The contents of this map do not appear elsewhere on this site. However, given the date and format of the map, presentation here helps provide a more complete understanding of the mapping of St. Croix.
Virgin Islands of the United States, scale 1:24,000 in 3 topographic sheets
1958 prints dated
United States Geological Service
This updated United States Geological Service topographic map provides lower resolution from the 1919-1921 set of surveys. Despite that, the addition of colors to identify hilly forested areas along with bathymetric measures provides new dimensions to the map.
This map includes topographic markings for elevations of the ground along with some hilltops. Place names along the coast and for various estates correspond with the approximate locations. Fence lines in dotted red and roads help to define the estimated boundaries of individual estates, facilitated by the rectangular nature of each estate and the presence of quarter boundaries in heavy dotted lines.
On this map, ruins are identified in various locations. Windmills can be readily identified as a small dotted-line circle next to the word ruins. Square dotted outlines indicate other ruined structures.
Currently occupied structures appear as black squares or rectangles in their respective locations. Field reconnaissance located many ruins and occupied structures as would be expected from the depiction on the maps.
Like the English admiralty charts, this map points north to the top of the page. Instead of the quarter and estate boundaries being parallel with the edges of the map, this presentation tilts them.
Because of the curvature of the earth creating difficulties taking a three-dimensional object like an island and reducing it to two dimensions, connecting the three sheets that make up this map must be done with care. Creating a single image of the island does help clarify perceptions of locations that appear at the boundaries of one of the three sheets.
Virgin Islands of the United States, scale 1:24,000 in 3 topographic sheets
1982 Photorevised prints dated
United States Geological Service
The major difference between this photorevision and the 1958 topographic map is the addition of new roads and structures in purple. In some locations, water retention or expansion of quarries appear as purple markings on the map. This map also includes route numbers for individual roads developed between 1958 and 1982.