1949 Map of Cumberland

About this map

Cumberland sits at a critical junction of mountains and waterways where the Potomac River meets Wills Creek. This mid-century survey captures the industrial and transit character of the region, anchored by a dense network of railroads including the Baltimore and Ohio, Western Maryland, and Penn Central. The landscape is defined by the steep ridgelines of Wills Mountain and Haystack Mountain, famously breached by the water gap known as The Narrows. North of the city, small coal-country settlements like Wellersburg and Mount Savage are linked by winding creeks and rail spurs. The map documents the city's growth toward South Cumberland and Ridgeley, while also showing the rugged rural fringe marked by a Strip Mine on Allegheny Mountain and the enduring line of the historic National Pike.