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1956 Map of Cumberland

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Cumberland
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

The Allegheny Front serves as the dramatic topographical spine of this region, separating the high plateaus to the west from the ridge-and-valley province to the east. At the center of this industrial and mountain landscape lies Cumberland, a major transportation hub where the North Branch Potomac River meets the heavy traffic of the Baltimore & Ohio RR and Western Maryland Ry. The map reveals a mid-century balance between extraction, industry, and burgeoning recreation, with the high-altitude Canaan Valley and Deep Creek Lake State Park established alongside active resource corridors.

From the coal-mining regions around Frostburg and Morgantown to the agricultural valleys surrounding Romney and Winchester, the settlement pattern follows the ancient river gaps and steep ridges. Distinctive landmarks like Sideling Hill and Big Savage Mountain frame the passage of U.S. 40, while the southern reaches of the sheet are dominated by the extensive boundaries of the Monongahela National Forest and George Washington National Forest.