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1954 Map of Donora

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Donora
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

The Youghiogheny River and Monongahela River dominate this mid-century industrial landscape, framing a dense network of rail lines and mining operations. The Baltimore and Ohio and Pittsburgh and Lake Erie railroads parallel the riverbanks, serving the heavy industry concentrated in Donora and Monessen. Away from the riverfronts, the terrain rises into the coal-rich hills of Rostraver, where Coal Hollow Mine and the Equitable Mine sit alongside evolving suburban developments like Pricedale and Lynnwood.

Genealogists and local historians can trace the social infrastructure of the era through numerous institutions, such as the Concord Pioneer Sch and several parish churches including St Dominick Cem Ch. The map also preserves the footprint of early aviation with a private Landing Field near Salem. The presence of large strip mines and a Slag Dump near the river indicates the heavy environmental toll of the region's steel and coal production during its industrial peak.