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1943 Map of Harrisburg

Name: 1943 Topographic Map of Harrisburg
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

The Susquehanna River dominates this mid-century landscape, carving through a series of dramatic ridges including Peters Mountain, Third Mountain, and Blue Mountain. In 1942, when these aerial photographs were taken, the river was a primary corridor for the Pennsylvania Railroad and Reading lines, which served the industrial hubs of Harrisburg, Enola, and Marysville. The map captures the dense network of small communities and crossroads schools that defined Dauphin County, such as Singersville and Piketown.

Tracing the Appalachian Trail as it follows the ridgelines provides a view of the region's topography before significant suburban expansion. Notable landmarks like the Ellendale Forge Sta and Stone Glen Sta along Stony Creek highlight the older rail-stop economy. From the river islands like Haldeman Island to the rural Jacobs Ch Cem, the map documents a transition from the bustling urban center of the state capital to the quiet farming valleys of Halifax and West Hanover.