1956 Map of Lancaster

About this map

Franklin and Marshall College and the campus of the State Teachers College anchor this detailed study of the Pennsylvania Dutch country's urban center during a period of rapid post-war expansion. While the historic core of Lancaster remains dense with civic landmarks like City Hall and the Courthouse, purple revision tints show suburban growth pushing toward East Petersburg and Neffsville. The landscape is a complex mix of industrial infrastructure, including the Stockyards and various plants along the Reading RR, and institutional sites such as the Monastery of the Perpetual Rosary. Beyond the city limits, the winding Conestoga River and tributaries like Little Conestoga Creek define the transitions into Manheim and Lampeter townships. This 1956 survey, updated with 1969 aerial data, captures the conversion of traditional farmland into residential developments like Beverly Estates and School Lane Hills.