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1955 Map of Catawissa

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Catawissa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

Coal-country industry and small-town geography define this mid-century survey of the Catawissa Mountain region. The landscape is dominated by the anthracite legacy of the southern reaches, where the complex grid of Centralia and the nearby Mine Dump sit just above the ridge from Byrnsville and Germantown. This era shows these communities at a point of high density before subterranean fires and urban changes altered the local map.

Further north, the winding Catawissa Creek passes through more agrarian terrain, connecting the borough of Catawissa with settlements like Mainville and Shumans. The industrial infrastructure is visible throughout, from the Reading RR lines following the river valleys to rural landmarks like Parrs Mill and Pensyls Mill. For those tracing family roots, the map provides precise locations for numerous community centers, including the Immaculate Heart Academy and several family-named burial grounds like Hetherington Cem and Michaels Cem.