Loading map...

1908 Map of New Holland

Name: 1908 Topographic Map of New Holland
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1921
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1921

About this map

Ephrata and New Holland anchor this detailed study of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country during a time of significant transition. The landscape is defined by a dense network of early thoroughfares like the New Holland Turnpike and Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike, which supported a flourishing agricultural economy long before modern highways. The presence of the Conestoga Electric Railway running through Leola and Bareville illustrates the early 20th-century push for regional connectivity, linking smaller settlements such as Blue Ball and Goodville to the larger rail hubs of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Genealogists will find exceptional detail in the sheer number of named local institutions, from Beller Church and Leacock Church to dozens of family-named schools like Bitzer School and Metzler School. The intricate mapping of waterways such as Conestoga Creek and Pequea Creek reveals the foundational role of water power and drainage in shaping the township boundaries of Earl, Ephrata, and Leacock.