1960 Map of Lehighton

About this map

The Lehigh River carves a deep path through the coal region of Carbon County, anchoring a landscape defined by industry and complex topography. In Lehighton, the urban grid is densely packed with local institutions like the Third Ward Sch and First Ward Sch, while the riverbanks are dominated by the competing infrastructure of the Lehigh Valley RR and the Central RR of New Jersey. The intricate rail yards at Packerton and the strategic Lizard Creek Junction illustrate the era's dependence on rail for transport through the water gaps. To the south, the ridge of Blue Mountain remains largely undeveloped, marked only by the Appalachian Trail and the passage at Lehigh Furnace Gap. Small settlements like Ashfield, Balliet, and Germans dot the agricultural valleys, showing the persistent rural character surrounding the industrial river corridor.