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1960 Map of Harrisville

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Harrisville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

Industrial activity and rural settlement define the borderlands of Harrison, Jefferson, and Belmont counties as they appeared in 1960. The massive Georgetown Coal Preparation Plant and extensive strip mines dominate the northern terrain, indicating the era's heavy reliance on coal extraction. A complex network of railroads, including the Pennsylvania and the New York Central, crisscrosses the landscape to service the mines and connect small villages like Science Hill and Harrisville.

Genealogical interest is found in the numerous country cemeteries scattered across the ridges, such as Olive Branch Cem, West Grove Cem, and Wheeling Valley Cemetery. Small communities like New Athens and Shepherdstown are shown in detail, along with mid-century cultural markers like the Drive-in Theater near Science Hill. The rugged topography is defined by prominent features like Branson Ridge and Colerain Ridge, which separate the various forks of Wheeling Creek and Short Creek.