Published in 1990 by the U.S. Geological Survey, “Wilmington, North Carolina” presents the lower Cape Fear coast at a highly practical 1:100,000 scale, balancing regional breadth with topographic precision. Centered on Wilmington and extending across a richly varied coastal plain, the map captures a landscape where rivers, barrier islands, marshes, highways, railways, and Atlantic shoreline all converge. Topsail Beach appears among the defining coastal communities, joined by Surf City, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, and Figure Eight Island. The clean USGS design uses color to distinguish land, water, transportation corridors, and developed areas, while red latitude and longitude grid lines provide a disciplined geographic framework. It is both a navigational document and a snapshot of coastal North Carolina at the end of the twentieth century.

The U.S. Geological Survey’s cartographic work has long been valued for its authority, consistency, and remarkable legibility, and this map reflects that institutional tradition. Created for scientific, governmental, recreational, and planning use, it translates a complex shoreline into a coherent visual system. Contour lines describe subtle changes in elevation across a predominantly low-lying coastal landscape, where even modest relief can be important for drainage, settlement, and storm exposure. Roads, railways, county boundaries, waterways, and public lands are carefully integrated without overwhelming the eye. The result is a map that feels both technical and elegant: a precise federal survey document, yet also an evocative portrait of a region shaped by tidal movement, maritime commerce, military presence, and beach communities.

Wilmington, shown as the principal urban center, anchors the map both geographically and historically. Situated near the Cape Fear River, the city has long served as one of North Carolina’s most important ports, with a history tied to trade, naval activity, rail connections, and riverine transport. The Cape Fear River system dominates the inland portion of the map, flowing past industrial, agricultural, and residential landscapes before reaching the Atlantic. Nearby Riegelwood, Holly Ridge, and the surrounding portions of New Hanover and Pender Counties reveal the broader inland network supporting the coastal economy. The presence of railways, highways, and military sites underscores the region’s strategic importance, particularly in linking port facilities, defense installations, and rapidly growing coastal communities.

The barrier islands and sounds are among the map’s most compelling features. Topsail Beach, Surf City, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, and Figure Eight Island trace the thin, shifting line between mainland and ocean, where sand, marsh, and tidal water form a dynamic coastal edge. The Intracoastal Waterway threads through this environment, offering a protected navigational route behind the exposed Atlantic beaches. Masonboro Sound and other estuarine waters appear as intricate blue passages, bordered by wetlands and lowlands that are essential to the region’s ecology. Fort Fisher, near the mouth of the Cape Fear River, adds a powerful historical dimension, recalling Civil War-era defenses and the enduring military significance of this narrow coastal corridor.

As a 1990 imprint, the map captures a moment before many later phases of coastal development, environmental regulation, and shoreline change reshaped parts of southeastern North Carolina. Beach communities such as Topsail Beach and Wrightsville Beach have continued to evolve through tourism, residential expansion, storm recovery, and coastal management efforts. Marshes, inlets, and barrier islands shown here remain vulnerable to erosion, hurricanes, sea-level rise, and changing land-use pressures, making the map valuable as a historical record of place as well as a geographic tool. Its clarity invites close reading: one can follow roads toward the beaches, trace waterways through the sounds, or study the relationship between Wilmington’s urban core and the fragile coastal landscapes surrounding it.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Topsail Beach
• Wilmington
• Ocean Isle Beach
• Holly Ridge
• Surf City
• Cape Fear River
• Intracoastal Waterway
• Atlantic Ocean
• Riegelwood
• Wrightsville Beach
• Fort Fisher
• Carolina Beach
• Masonboro Sound
• Figure Eight Island
• New Hanover County
• Pender County
• Military sites
• Parks and recreation areas
• Coastal streets and highways
• Railways

Historical context & cartographic details

• Published by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
• Created in 1990
• Historical 1:100,000 scale topographical map of Wilmington, North Carolina and the surrounding coastal area
• Highlights Topsail Beach and nearby southeastern North Carolina communities
• USGS topographic maps are widely used for recreation, land use planning, and scientific research
• Clean, clear layout with color-coding for landforms and water bodies
• Red grid lines indicate latitude and longitude for easier location reference
• Depicts a coastal landscape with varying elevations shown by contour lines
• Rivers, marshes, roads, and other topographic features are clearly marked
• Reflects the USGS emphasis on accuracy and usability for public and professional use
• Captures the area as it appeared in 1990, before later urban development and ecological changes influenced coastal management and land use

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 36x20in (90x50cm) 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.