1949 Map of Cumberland

About this map

The Potomac River and Wills Creek define the transit corridors of this mid-century industrial hub, where multiple rail lines converge beneath the steep slopes of Wills Mountain. Industrial activity is evident in the strip mines dotting the northern ridges near Wellersburg and Barrelville. The map illustrates a landscape shaped by transportation, from the historic National Pike winding past Braddock Hill to the complex junctions of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and Western Maryland Railroad. Settlement patterns follow the narrow valley floors, connecting communities like Corriganville, Mt Savage Junction, and Ellerslie along the winding creek beds. In Cumberland, the presence of the Courthouse, Memorial Hospital, and Allegany High School marks the city's role as a regional center of governance and commerce just after the post-war expansion.