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1961 Map of Bethesda

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Bethesda
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

Bethesda and its neighboring villages sit at the center of this Belmont County survey, which illustrates the transition from traditional agriculture and small-town life to the industrial scale of surface mining. The landscape is dotted with several family and community landmarks, including Plainfield Cem, Ebenezer Cem, and the specialized grounds of Epworth Park on the edge of town. Educational and social hubs are clearly marked, from the centrally located Union High Sch to a Drive-in Theater situated along the regional road network.

Industrial activity is prominent throughout the northern and western sections of the map, where numerous labels for Strip Mine and Strip Mines indicate the heavy coal extraction prevalent in the mid-20th century. The Baltimore and Ohio railroad serves as the primary transportation artery, winding through the southern half of the quadrangle to connect settlements like Belmont and Speidel. Water management is represented by the Belmont State Lake Reserve and a small portion of the Piedmont Reservoir, while numerous creeks like McMahon Creek continue to define the natural drainage of these rolling hills.