Loading map...

1955 Map of Bernville

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Bernville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

Bernville sits at the confluence of several creeks in Berks County, where the historic Union Canal (Abandoned) traces a winding path along the Tulpehocken Creek. This mid-century survey reveals a rural landscape dominated by agriculture and institutional facilities, such as the County Home and Hospital, County Sanatorium, and County Prison located near the southern border. The terrain is marked by prominent ridges like Scull Hill, separating the various townships and small settlements.

Local life revolves around numerous country churches and crossroads, including Bellemans Ch, Bern Ch, and North Heidelberg Ch. Traces of earlier industry are evident in several scattered quarries, while small villages like Centerport and Mt Pleasant serve as anchors for the surrounding farmsteads. The presence of the Union Canal highlights the area's transition from the canal era to a modern road-based network by the 1950s.