1894 Map of Bloomsburg

About this map

Bloomsburg serves as the focal point of this late 19th-century landscape, situated along the north bank of the Susquehanna River where the Bloomsburg and Sullivan R.R. meets the D. L. and W. R.R.. The map reveals a transition from the industrial and transportation corridor of the river valley—marked by the Penn. Canal and numerous rail lines—to the high ridges of Knob Mountain and Lee Mountain. These parallel ranges dictate the course of Fishing Creek and its many tributaries, creating a series of narrow valleys where early settlements like Stillwater and Benton took root. Geographers H.M. Wilson and S.S. Gannett documented a network of small mill towns and stations, such as Coles Mills and Zaner Station, which reflect the region's reliance on water power and rail access before the turn of the century.