Loading map...

1953 Map of Rising Sun

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Rising Sun
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

The Mason and Dixon Line serves as the focal point of this 1953 survey, dividing the rolling landscape of Little Britain, Pennsylvania, from the rural expanses of northern Maryland. This area is defined by a dense network of crossroad settlements and family-named corners, such as Barnes Corner and Cathers Corner, which were central to local life in the early 1950s. The community of Rising Sun sits at the heart of the Maryland section, where the Pennsylvania railroad line cuts through the terrain.

Genealogists will find a wealth of specific landmarks, including numerous country churches like Union Ch and New Bridge Ch, alongside small rural schools such as Cooper Sch. The topography is intricately carved by Octoraro Creek and Principio Creek, which supported early industry at sites like Lees Mill. This map captures a moment of transition where traditional agrarian patterns and old schoolhouses remained visible even as the region integrated further into the broader mid-Atlantic transportation corridors.