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1950 Map of Lonaconing

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Lonaconing
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

Georges Creek carves a narrow, industrial valley through this portion of the Allegheny Mountains, serving as the primary corridor for settlements like Lonaconing and Midland. This 1950 survey reveals a landscape deeply shaped by the coal and transportation sectors of western Maryland, with strip mines dotting the ridges and three major rail lines—the Pennsylvania RR, Western Maryland RR, and Baltimore and Ohio RR—weaving through the tight terrain to service the coal patches.

Genealogists can locate several smaller communities and family landmarks, including Klondike, Pekin, and Borden Shaft. The map details the steep ascent of Dans Mountain, featuring the prominent Dans Rock and a lookout tower overlooking the Potomac River valley. To the west, the protected wilderness of Savage River State Forest offers a sharp contrast to the intensive mining and railroad operations found in the neighboring valleys.