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1951 Map of Pittsburgh West

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Pittsburgh West
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1951
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1951

About this map

The confluence of the Allegheny River and Monongahela River forms the Ohio River at the heart of this post-war survey, anchoring a landscape of heavy industry and dense residential expansion. Along the river banks, the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie and Pennsylvania railroads service the manufacturing hubs of McKees Rocks and Esplen, while the McKees Rocks Bridge and West End Bridge connect the river's north and south shores. Beyond the industrial corridors, the terrain rises into the boroughs of Dormont, Mount Lebanon, and Crafton, which are characterized by a tight network of schools and churches.

Institutional landmarks are prominent features of the mid-century landscape, including the Western State Penitentiary on the riverfront and the Allegheny Observatory in Riverview Park. In the more rural outskirts like Robinson and Stowe, a Strip Mine and numerous family cemeteries, such as the Petrie Cem and Polish Cem, indicate a landscape still transitioning from extraction and agriculture to suburban development. The map meticulously documents the transition from the urban density of Pittsburgh to the growing residential tracts around Castle Shannon.