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1903 Map of Curwensville

Name: 1903 Topographic Map of Curwensville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1924
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1924

About this map

The West Branch Susquehanna River winds through the heart of Clearfield County, defining the early industrial and transportation character of this central Pennsylvania landscape. In the early twentieth century, the town of Curwensville served as a key hub where the Buffalo Rochester and Pittsburgh RR met the river, facilitating the movement of timber and coal from the surrounding hills. To the south and west, the rail network expanded through settlements like Lumber City and Mahaffey, following the tight curves of the river valley.

The presence of the Pennsylvania RR and the New York Central and Hudson River RR highlights the region's importance as a thoroughfare for natural resources. Beyond the river corridors, the map reveals a high density of small rural communities and family-named landmarks such as Grampian, Bells Landing, and Gazzam. Notable industrial activity is marked by features like the Witmer Mine near Irvona, illustrating the transition from lumbering to mineral extraction that shaped these Appalachian townships.