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1983 Map of Oil City

Name: 1983 Topographic Map of Oil City
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1984
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1984

About this map

The Allegheny River and Clarion River dominate this early 1980s landscape, winding through a region defined by its industrial heritage and extensive public lands. The map details the urban centers of Oil City and Franklin, where the confluence of French Creek and the Allegheny served as a historical hub for transport and resource extraction. The presence of numerous State Game Lands and the western edge of the Allegheny National Forest reflects a significant mid-century shift toward land conservation and managed recreation in the wake of the Pennsylvania oil boom.

Transportation networks are heavily represented, featuring a complex grid of rail lines including the Conrail and Baltimore and Ohio RR systems. These tracks parallel the river valleys, connecting smaller settlements like Henderson Station and Coal City to the larger hubs. For researchers, the map provides a look at regional infrastructure just as Interstate 80 had fully established its corridor through the southern half of the quadrangle, altering the movement of people and goods away from the traditional river towns.