Loading map...

1948 Map of Cumberland

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Cumberland
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

Cumberland serves as a central hub in this post-war landscape, where the ridge-and-valley terrain of the Allegheny Mountains dictates the path of industry and transit. This 1:250,000 scale survey illustrates the heavy reliance on rail networks like the B and O RR, Western Maryland Ry, and Pennsylvania RR to navigate the steep gaps between Negro Mountain and Sideling Hill. The map captures the region during a period of industrial activity, showing the connectivity between coal and manufacturing centers such as Morgantown, Uniontown, and Connellsville.

Beyond the industrial corridors, the survey highlights significant recreation and conservation areas, including Deep Creek Lake and vast stretches of the Monongahela National Forest and George Washington National Forest. The complex drainage patterns of the Potomac River and Youghiogheny River are meticulously charted, providing a clear view of how the natural watercourse influenced the placement of settlements like Keyser, Romney, and Westernport.