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1893 Map of Lykens

Name: 1893 Topographic Map of Lykens
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1893
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1893

About this map

Coal or Thick Mountain dominates the industrial character of this region during the late nineteenth century, reflecting the deep integration of anthracite mining and mountain topography. The Summit Branch Railroad serves as a vital transportation artery, connecting mining hubs like Wiconisco, Lykens, and Williamstown along the base of Short Mountain. These settlements are concentrated within the narrow valleys, illustrating the historical reliance on rail infrastructure to move resources out of the ridge-and-valley landscape.

Northward, the terrain shifts to an agricultural and rural pattern across Hubley and Upper Mahantango townships. Small hamlets such as Klingerstown, Rough and Ready, and Hebe are scattered along Mahantango Creek and its tributaries. To the south, the map details the more wooded and less populated stretches of Berry Mountain and Peters Mountain, where numerous streams like Clarks Creek and Rattling Creek drain the high ridges, separating the industrial coal towns from the quieter rural reaches of Dauphin and Schuylkill counties.