1977 Map of Rachelwood

About this map

The settlement of Rachelwood sits within a landscape defined by industrial and municipal water management as it appeared in the late 1970s. This orthophotoquad, produced by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Soil Conservation Service, reveals the interplay between residential pockets and significant water infrastructure. The imagery highlights several key bodies of water, including the prominent Tubmill Reservoir and the North Fork Reservoir, which dominate the central and southeastern portions of the sheet. Unlike a traditional topographic map, this aerial perspective provides a clear view of the vegetation patterns and clearing boundaries surrounding Mirror Lake. It captures a specific moment in Westmoreland County's rural development, showing the expansion of roads and small settlements against the backdrop of the region's reservoirs and forested terrain.