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1920 Map of Altoona

Name: 1920 Topographic Map of Altoona
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

The industrial and transportation hub of Altoona dominates the southern portion of this landscape, where the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks slice through the valley. This era reveals a densely developed network of neighborhoods and adjacent settlements like Juniata and East Altoona, serviced by numerous local institutions such as the Logan School and Grandview Cemetery. The topographical contrast is sharp as the terrain rises into the Allegheny Mountain and Brush Mountain, defining the natural corridors that railroads and roads must follow.

Rural life in the 1920s is well-documented through a scattering of small communities and crossroads such as Blandburg, Frugality, and Tipton. The map identifies many family-named schools and landmarks, from the Williams School near the Clearfield County line to the Sabbath Rest School along the Little Juniata River. These labels provide a detailed view of the settlement patterns and local geography of Blair and Cambria counties during a period of significant regional growth.