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1961 Map of Petersburg

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Petersburg
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

Petersburg sits at the northern end of this mid-century survey, a regional hub defined by its proximity to the White River and its position atop a network of extraction and transit. The landscape south of town reveals an intensive industrial history, marked by multiple Strip Mine operations and the sprawling Ashby Yards of the New York Central Railroad. This rail system, alongside the Alger, Winslow and Western Railroad, underscores the area's role in moving coal and timber from the surrounding countryside.

Rural life is preserved in the detailed mapping of numerous small family cemeteries and country churches, such as the De Jarnett Cem, Old Union Cem, and Gladish Chapel. The bottomlands of the Patoka River provide a sharp contrast to the upland mining zones, featuring the Pike County State Forest and traces of the historical W & E Canal. Smaller hamlets like Glezen and Littles appear as quiet clusters along the rail lines, representing the era's traditional settlement pattern.