1948 Map of Keating Summit

About this map

The drainage divide of the Allegheny Plateau is clearly defined in this mid-century study of the high country between McKean and Potter Counties. Keating Summit serves as the focal point, where the Penn Central railroad tracks navigate the steep transition between the Allegheny River valley to the north and the headwaters of Sinnemahoning Creek to the south. Small settlements like Liberty, Wrights, and Hamilton are pockets of development in a landscape dominated by deeply incised hollows and high ridges. Significant landmarks such as the fire tower on Fox Mountain and the lookout on Lookout Mountain indicate the vast timbered stretches and the importance of fire observation during this era. The map also traces industrial infrastructure like the Pipeline crossing the northern ridges, while the natural character of the land remains evident in features like the Beaver Ponds near the western boundary.