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1968 Map of Murdock

Name: 1968 Topographic Map of Murdock
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1982
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1982

About this map

The Baltimore and Ohio and Western Maryland railroads snake through this Somerset County landscape, following the deep cut of the Casselman River and the base of Negro Mountain. This survey illustrates a region defined by its extractive industries and heavy infrastructure, where extensive Strip Mines and several Reclaimed Strip Mines pockmark the hillsides between the settlements of Murdock and Blackfield. The presence of a Tipple near Shober and multiple Gravel Pits reflects the area's mid-century economic reliance on its mineral resources.

Local life is anchored by traditional landmarks such as the Cover Hill school area and several rural congregations, including St Johns Ch Cem and St Pauls Ch Cem. Much of the central terrain is dedicated to the State Game Lands No 50, creating a contrast between the conserved woodland and the intensive industrial activity along the river valley. Further infrastructure like the Pennsylvania Turnpike in the north and various pipelines highlight the area's role as a vital transit corridor.