1961 Map of Hastings

About this map

The industrial and religious landscape of the Northern Cambria coal region is documented here during a period of transition in the early 1960s. The borough of Hastings sits at the heart of an area defined by extensive extraction, with Strip Mine excavations visible across the hills of Elder and Susquehanna townships. This survey reveals a dense network of Catholic heritage and ethnic settlements, including Swedetown, Slickport, and St Boniface, alongside prominent parish landmarks like St Bernard Ch and its accompanying St Bernard Cem. The infrastructure of the Penn Central railroad follows the winding course of Chest Creek, serving small communities such as Patton and Thomas Mills. Further south, the map captures the residential and industrial footprint of St Benedict and Cymbria, illustrating the tightly knit relationship between the mining economy and the social life of these valley towns.