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1902 Map of Mercersburg

Name: 1902 Topographic Map of Mercersburg
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1921
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1921

About this map

Richmond Furnace and Franklin Furnace define the industrial footprint of this south-central Pennsylvania landscape at the turn of the century. The terrain is dominated by the steep ridges of Tuscarora Mountain and Cove Mountain, which flank narrow valleys like Horse Valley and Bear Valley. These natural corridors shaped the early development of timber and mineral extraction, evidenced by the presence of the Highstick Lumber Camp and Kolbach Sawmill near Cowan Gap.

Transportation networks are anchored by the Cumberland Valley RR, which connects several small hamlets including Lemaster and Williamson. The prominent settlement of Mercersburg serves as a hub, linked to neighboring towns by historical turnpikes such as the McConnellsburg Chambersburg and Gettysburg Pike. Significant landmarks like Parnell Knob and the St Thomas M E Ch provide essential orientation points for genealogists tracing ancestral routes through Peters and Montgomery townships.