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1943 Map of Manatawny

Name: 1943 Topographic Map of Manatawny
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1943
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1943

About this map

Topton and Bechtelsville anchor this mid-century survey of the Pennsylvania countryside, where the agricultural landscape of Berks County is defined by its deep-running stream valleys. The Reading railroad corridor passes through the northwestern corner, serving the community of Bowers and the Lutheran Home, while a network of rural roads connects established hamlets like Fredericksville and Landis Store. The terrain is marked by significant rises including Topton Mountain and Gap Hill, which separate the headwaters of the Little Lehigh Creek from the southern drainages.

Local history is preserved in the placement of landmarks such as Hill Church and New Jerusalem. The map illustrates the 1940s road network through District, Pike, and Rockland townships, showing the distribution of farmsteads and rural dwellings. Notable watercourses like Manatawny Creek and Pine Creek carve through the topography, highlighting the natural geography that shaped early settlement patterns in this part of the Lehigh Valley region.