1955 Map of Bethel

About this map

Swatara Creek and its tributary, Little Swatara Creek, define the drainage of this Pennsylvania landscape as it appeared in the mid-1950s with later updates. The border between Berks and Lebanon counties bisects the terrain, showing a transition from the agricultural lowlands of Tulpehocken and Marion townships toward the wooded hillsides in the north. Evidence of the region's 19th-century industrial history is preserved in the remnants of the Union Canal near Millardsville, running parallel to Tulpehocken Creek. Local social and economic centers are well-marked, from the rural settlements of Rehrersburg and Mount Aetna to recreational sites like Shikellamy Scout Camp and the Hilltop Park Speedway. For genealogists, several traditional German-sect landmarks such as Merkey Ch and Tulpehocken Ch provide specific points of interest for family research.