Loading map...

1969 Map of Rathbun

Name: 1969 Topographic Map of Rathbun
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

Penn Central tracks wind through the narrow valley of West Branch Penn Central Creek, connecting the small settlements of Rathbun, Swissmont, and Beechwood in this 1969 topographic survey. The landscape is defined by the steep hollows and ridges of the Elk State Forest and State Game Lands No 14, where namesake features like Schoolhouse Hollow and Friddle Hollow offer clues to the area's early rural development.

Industry and resource extraction are evident across the high plateaus, including a Strip Mine near Goetz Summit and a Gas Well further west. The map also reveals the localized place-names given to the region's many drainages, such as the colorful Hellfire Run, Liquor Run, and Sawdust Run. These names often point to the logging and camp life that preceded the mid-century recreation and conservation lands shown here. Saint Marys Airport sits on the western edge of the quadrangle, serving as a modern aviation anchor for this remote stretch of the Elk and Cameron county border.