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1950 Map of Scranton

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Scranton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1950
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1950

About this map

The heavy industrial footprint of the Lackawanna Valley is visible in this mid-century survey, where the Lackawanna River corridor tethers together a dense network of neighborhoods and rail lines. Major institutional landmarks anchor the urban landscape, from Scranton University and Marywood College to the International Correspondence Schools. The city's growth into the surrounding hills is evidenced by the numerous cemeteries and hospitals lining the slopes, including the Cathedral Cem and the isolated West Mountain Sanatorium.

Transport and topography define the region, with the Delaware Lackawanna and Western RR and the Delaware and Hudson RR navigating the valley floor. Beyond the urban centers of Scranton and Dunmore, the terrain rises toward West Mtn and Bald Mountain, where the landscape transitions into the residential pockets of Clarks Summit and South Abington. The map also captures the critical water infrastructure of the era, from the large Scranton Lake to smaller reservoirs like Griffin Res.