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1953 Map of Beaver

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Beaver
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

The confluence of the Ohio River and Beaver River dictates the landscape of this industrial river corridor, where steep hillsides overlook a dense network of rail and river commerce. This mid-century survey reveals the tightly packed residential and civic cores of Beaver, New Brighton, and Rochester, which grew along these waterways. Cultural and educational institutions are prominent, from the Pennsylvania State University (Beaver Campus) to local landmarks like the Courthouse and Passavant Memorial Homes.

Beyond the urban centers, the map documents the transition to suburban and rural tracts in Chippewa and Center, where family names and local history are preserved in places like the Sylvania Hills Cem and Richmond Union Chapel. The heavy industrial footprint of the era is evident in the presence of Brick Kilns, Strip Mine sites, and the extensive rail yards of Conrail and the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie, showing the region as a vital manufacturing hub.