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1892 Map of Hummelstown

Name: 1892 Topographic Map of Hummelstown
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1920
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1920

About this map

Hummelstown and the surrounding townships of Derry and West Hanover are defined by the dramatic ridges of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians. Parallel ranges including Peters Mountain, Stony Mountain, and Sharp Mountain dominate the northern half of the sheet, partitioned by water gaps such as Swatara Gap and Manada Gap. These natural corridors dictated the paths of early industrial transport, most notably the Schuylkill and Susquehanna Branch and the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, which followed the narrow valleys between the steep ridges.

Industrial and social life in the 1890s centered on these rail lines and water sources like Swatara Creek. Small mountain settlements like Rausch Gap and Cold Spring sit in contrast to the more developed agricultural and milling hubs to the south, such as Union Deposit and Palmyra. Unusual natural landmarks like the boulder field known as Devils Race Course and spiritual centers like Walmers Church provide a detailed look at the cultural and physical geography of Dauphin and Lebanon counties at the end of the nineteenth century.