Loading map...

1948 Map of Cumberland

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Cumberland
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1950
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1950

About this map

The industrial and transport corridors of the mid-Atlantic mountains are clearly defined here, centered on the strategic hub of Cumberland where the Potomac River and B & O RR navigate the dramatic ridges. The map illustrates the complex geology of the Allegheny Front and the series of parallel ridges like Wills Mountain and Sideling Hill that dictated settlement patterns in Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

Major water features like Deep Creek Lake and the Monongahela River system serve as anchors for regional industry and recreation. Beyond the larger cities of Morgantown and Winchester, the map records numerous smaller mountain communities and coal towns, including Westernport Piedmont and Mount Storm. Extensive rail networks including the WM Ry and PRR snake through the valleys, connecting remote timber and mining areas within the Monongahela National Forest to the larger Atlantic markets.