1969 Map of Harrisburg East

About this map

Blue Mountain dominates the northern horizon of this Dauphin County landscape, providing a sharp topographical boundary to the suburban expansion of Harrisburg. The map reveals a post-war transformation where small older settlements like Linglestown and Paxtang are increasingly knit together by new residential developments and a massive infrastructure of schools and highways. The path of Interstate 81 is shown under construction, carving through Susquehanna and Lower Paxton, signaling a shift away from the traditional rail-centered economy of the Reading and Penn Central lines. Local genealogy and history are preserved in the numerous burial grounds and churches that dot the map, from the centrally located Shoops Cemetery to St Thomas Ch in the north. This document captures a moment when rural lands were rapidly yielding to the administrative and residential needs of the state capital region.