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1949 Map of Keyser

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Keyser
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

Keyser serves as a critical rail hub where the Baltimore and Ohio and Western Maryland railroads converge along the banks of the North Branch Potomac River. This mid-century survey illustrates the town’s development as an institutional and transit center, anchored by Potomac State College and surrounded by steep ridges like Dans Mountain and Abrams Ridge. The rugged terrain of the Allegheny Mountains dictates the settlement patterns, forcing the river valley to accommodate both heavy industry and agricultural tracts such as the County Farm.

Beyond the urban center, the map documents numerous rural landmarks essential for genealogists, including Meadow View Cem, Willow Dale Chapel, and the Fountain Sch. Small river-side hamlets like McCoole and Dawson are shown in relation to the winding Potomac River, which serves as the boundary between Allegany and Mineral counties. The detail extends to local water sources like the Keyser Reservoir and named hollows such as Wildcat Hollow, providing a comprehensive view of the landscape before later modern development.