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1956 Map of Middletown

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Middletown
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

Olmsted AFB and the industrial activity of the mid-20th century define this stretch of the Susquehanna River, where the borders of Dauphin, York, and Lancaster counties meet. The river landscape is characterized by a dense network of islands, including the prominent Threemile Island, and the complex hydrography of the Haldeman Riffles near Bainbridge. While the riverside supports centers like Middletown, Marietta, and Wrightsville, the interior transitions into a grid of rural schools and historic congregations such as Shope Ch and Bosslers Ch.

Educational and institutional landmarks like Elizabethville College and the Patton Masonic Sch reflect the civic growth of the 1950s. The presence of the Marietta Air Force Sta and various grain elevators along the Pennsylvania railroad tracks illustrates the strategic importance of this corridor for both military logistics and the regional agricultural economy. From the quarrying near Billmyer to the Cool Brook Country Club, the map captures a period of high utility along the valley.