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1950 Map of Artemas

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Artemas
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

Fifteenmile Creek carves a deep valley through the ridges of Allegany County, Maryland, and Bedford County, Pennsylvania, defining the remote character of this borderland. The landscape is dominated by a series of parallel elevations including Polish Mountain, Green Ridge, and Town Hill, which forced early transportation into specific corridors. The northern boundary follows the historic Mason and Dixon Line, while the southern edge is marked by the winding Potomac River near the small settlement of Little Orleans.

Evidence of early travel and commerce is found along the National Pike and the Old Cumberland Road, which traverse the steep terrain. Local life centered around small hubs like Artemas and Piney Grove, supported by community institutions such as Mt Hope Ch and Piney Plains Sch. The inclusion of the Long Pond Red and Gun Club and several named springs, including White Sulphur Spring, indicates the area's long-standing use for recreation and mineral water, even as the rugged topography limited large-scale development.