1977 Map of New Baltimore

About this map

New Baltimore occupies a tight bend of the Raystown Branch Juniata River, where the landscape transitions from river valley to the sharp elevations of Dividing Ridge. This 1977 orthophotograph, rectified from aerial imagery, provides a detailed visual record of the land use patterns in Somerset County during the late 1970s. The map captures the patchwork of agricultural clearings and dense forest cover surrounding smaller settlements like Mt Zion and Glen Savage. This specific format—an orthophotoquad—replaces traditional topographic lines with actual photographic detail, allowing researchers to see exact fence lines, building footprints, and the precise density of the woods in areas such as Glade. It is an essential resource for understanding how rural Pennsylvania was partitioned and farmed before modern suburban expansion or reforestation altered these family-held tracts.