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1986 Map of Pittsburgh East

Name: 1986 Topographic Map of Pittsburgh East
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1988
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1988

About this map

The Monongahela River and Youghiogheny River valleys form the industrial heart of this mid-1980s landscape, winding through steel towns like Duquesne, McKeesport, and Clairton. East of the immediate Pittsburgh urban core, the terrain rises toward the formidable ridges of Chestnut Ridge and Laurel Hill. This period captures the region's transport network at a point of transition, with major rail lines including Conrail and the Chessie System serving coal and manufacturing hubs alongside the established path of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Educational institutions such as Saint Vincent College near Latrobe and Seton Hill College in Greensburg anchor the inland settlements. The map details the vital water infrastructure of the Laurel Highlands, showing the Beaver Run Reservoir and Latrobe Reservoir which support the population centers to the west. Recreational and conservation lands, including the expansive Forbes State Forest and Laurel Ridge State Park, define the eastern boundary, providing a clear view of the rural-industrial divide in Westmoreland and Somerset counties.