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1955 Map of Catawissa

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

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

The Susquehanna River carves a deep valley through the heart of Columbia County, serving as the primary corridor for industry and transit in the mid-1950s. At the river's confluence with Fishing Creek, the town of Bloomsburg shows its established urban grid and infrastructure, including the Bloomsburg Airport and the Reading D L & W railroad. Across the water, the town of Catawissa is anchored at the foot of Catawissa Mountain, where several rail lines converge.

South of the river, the landscape transitions into the agricultural and milling communities of Franklin and Cleveland. Local industry and heritage are visible in features like Pensyls Mill and Parrs Mill along Roaring Creek, while the rural social fabric is evidenced by landmarks such as Old Quaker Ch and the McIntyre Sch. The map documents a period when small settlements like Slabtown and Newlin still maintained distinct identities centered around local mills and churches.