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1939 Map of Orbisonia

Name: 1939 Topographic Map of Orbisonia
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

The ridge-and-valley landscape of central Pennsylvania is deeply etched across this 1939 survey, centered on the historic iron and rail hub of Orbisonia. The East Broad Top RR winds through the northern valleys, serving settlements like Rockhill and Saltillo, while the massive engineering of the Pennsylvania Turnpike cuts through the southern reaches, including the Tuscarora Tunnel. This era represents a significant transition in transportation, as the narrow-gauge rail infrastructure of the previous century shared the terrain with the newly emerging high-speed toll road.

Local rural life is meticulously documented through an array of small schools and country churches. Named family and community landmarks such as Whitsel Sch, St Marys Ch, and Jordan Cem are scattered between the slopes of Shade Mountain and Tuscarora Mountain. Along the watercourses, Kubns Mill and Hoovers Mill indicate the continued importance of water-powered industry in Path Valley and the surrounding coves.