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1953 Map of New Kensington West

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of New Kensington West
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

The Allegheny River defines the industrial and residential development of this region, separating New Kensington and Arnold on the eastern bank from the dense network of boroughs on the west. In the mid-1950s, the river serves as a primary transit and power corridor, anchored by Lock and Dam No 3 and the New Kensington Bridge. The landscape is a complex mix of heavy industry and suburban expansion, where the Russellton Mine and various strip mines sit alongside established communities like Springdale and Oakmont.

Smaller settlements and rural pockets like Milltown (Haffey PO) and Rural Ridge illustrate the transition from riverfront manufacturing to the upland interior of West Deer and Indiana townships. Notable social landmarks of the era include the Allegheny Valley Airport and the sprawling Allegheny County Work House and Farm, while the Pennsylvania and Bessemer and Lake Erie railroads trace the valleys, supporting the local coal and gravel economies.