1969 Map of Rathbun

About this map

Rathbun and the surrounding wilderness of the Allegheny Plateau are defined by the convergence of steep hollows and high-altitude industry in the late 1960s. The Penn Central railroad tracks follow the winding course of West Branch Creek, connecting the small clusters of Beechwood and Swissmont. The landscape reflects a mix of conservation and extraction, with the extensive Elk State Forest and State Game Lands No 14 covering much of the terrain, while localized Strip Mine operations and a Gas Well near the Saint Marys Airport show the active use of natural resources. The topography is deeply incised by numerous named waterways with distinctive local names, including Hellfire Run, Liquor Run, and Sawdust Run, which likely reflect the early logging and frontier character of this portion of Elk and Cameron counties.