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1984 Map of State College

Name: 1984 Topographic Map of State College
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

The sprawling campus of Pennsylvania State University dominates the valley landscape at the heart of this 1984 survey. The region is defined by the rhythmic ridges of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, including Nittany Mountain and Bald Eagle Mountain, which channel settlement and transport into long, narrow corridors. Historic industrial and agricultural hubs like Bellefonte, Lewistown, and Mifflintown are linked by a complex network of waterways including the Juniata River and the Susquehanna River.

Public lands and conservation areas are prominent, with large tracts of the Rothrock State Forest, Bald Eagle State Forest, and Tuscarora State Forest covering the higher elevations. The map documents the recreational landscape of the mid-1980s, highlighting sites like Greenwood Furnace State Park and Poe Valley State Park. Transportation remains tied to the terrain, evidenced by the Conrail lines and the Bellefonte Historical RR following the natural breaks in the mountains.