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1915 Map of Reading

Name: 1915 Topographic Map of Reading
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1938
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1938

About this map

Neversink Mountain and the Schuylkill River anchor this 1913 survey of Berks County, revealing the intricate industrial and social geography surrounding Reading. The landscape is a network of water and rail, where the Schuylkill Canal and the Schuylkill Division railroad run parallel through the river valley. The city’s expansion is marked by civic and recreational landmarks like the County Farm, the Fairgrounds, and Carsonia Park.

Beyond the urban center, the map documents a dense rural infrastructure of one-room schoolhouses and country churches. Local industry and milling are evident at Van Reeds Mill and Stony Creek Mills, while numerous named hills like Irish Mountain and Deer Path Hill define the terrain. Genealogists can trace family names through dozens of labeled structures, including the Livingood School and Becker Church, which served established communities like Griesemersville and Friedensburg.