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1903 Map of Rural Valley

Name: 1903 Topographic Map of Rural Valley
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1939
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1939

About this map

Mahoning Furnace, McCrea Furnace, and Buffalo Furnace stand as industrial anchors along the deep creek valleys of Armstrong and Clarion Counties at the turn of the century. The landscape is defined by the sharp meanders of Red Bank Creek and Mahoning Creek, which carve through the plateau to meet the Allegheny River at the western edge of the survey. The Pennsylvania R.R. (Buffalo and Allegheny Valley Division) follows the river's edge, connecting early riverside settlements like Mosgrove and Templeton to the broader regional economy.

Small village centers and farming hamlets such as South Bethlehem, Kellersburg, and Putneyville are scattered across the uplands between the major drainage basins. The intricate network of smaller runs, including Glade Run and Beaver Run, dictated the placement of early roads and homesteads. Local historians can trace the early 20th-century footprint of these communities, from the established streets of St Charles to the namesake Stone House in the valley of Cowanshannock Creek.