2013 Map of Confluence

About this map

Confluence sits at the dramatic meeting of the Youghiogheny River, the Casselman River, and Laurel Hill Cr, a geographic junction that defined the settlement patterns of this corner of Somerset County. By the early 21st century, the landscape reflects a complex history of resource extraction and transit, evidenced by named hollows such as Coke Oven Hollow and Smith Hollow near Humbert. The rugged topography is pierced by engineering feats including Brooks Tunnel, Benford Tunnel, and Shoofly Tunnel, which allowed rail or road passage through the steep river valleys. To the south, the expansion of the Youghiogheny River Lake has reshaped the valley near Klondike Ridge and Horseshoe Bend. Smaller hamlets like Ursina, Harnedsville, and Listonburg dot the corridors of Whites Cr and the larger rivers, maintaining the character of rural Pennsylvania mountain communities.