1965 Map of Slatedale

About this map

Slatedale and the surrounding Lehigh County townships of Heidelberg and Lowhill showcase a landscape defined by traditional Pennsylvania German settlement patterns and industrial extraction. The northeastern corner is heavily marked by Quarries near Emerald and Rextown, a legacy of the region's prominent slate industry. To the south and west, the terrain shifts into a series of ridges and valleys drained by Jordan Creek and Switzer Creek, where small hamlets like Germansville, Saegersville, and Lyon Valley are connected by winding country roads. The survival of several rural houses of worship, such as Heidelberg Ch and Lowhill Ch, alongside family-named landmarks like Werleys Corner and Millers Cem, provides a clear view of the area's mid-20th-century social geography. Public lands including State Game Lands No 217 along Blue Mtn and the Trexler Game Preserve preserve significant open space amidst the shifting agricultural and industrial zones.