1904 Map of Beaver

About this map

The Beaver River and Ohio River confluence serves as the industrial and logistical heart of this 1901 survey, where steep valley walls dictated a dense string of riverside settlements. Large industrial towns like Beaver Falls, New Brighton, and Rochester are connected by the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad, showing a landscape heavily shaped by early 20th-century transportation. Beyond the riverfront corridors of Monaca and Freedom, the topography rises sharply into the plateau, where smaller farming communities and family-named landmarks like McCleary and Green Garden are scattered among the winding drainages of Raccoon Creek and Service Creek. The presence of Dam No 5 and Dam No 6 along the Ohio highlights the critical role of river navigation for the region's economy. Smaller landings, such as Colonial Bakers Landing, suggest a period when river traffic was the primary link for local trade before the full expansion of the upland road network.